The Weekly Journal - July 31, 2019 by El Vocero de Puerto Rico

Wednesday, July 30- August 5, 2019 - // no. 014

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

PRECEDENCE FOR A FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR RECOVERY FUNDS P6 COURT IMPOSES 120-DAY PAUSE ON BANKRUPTCY SUITS P8

“TOO PREMATURE” TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF THE POLITICAL CRISIS

In spite of ousting a governor scorned by demonstrators and the particularities of the unprecedented event, analysts have a sense of confidence in the future

>Josian Bruno Gómez

Cynthia López Cabán

“IN THE HEIGHTS” BACK IN SANTURCE P18

clopez@wjournal.com

@cynthia_lope

or two weeks, the intersection of Cristo Street and Fortaleza Street was the epicenter of the protests that brought down the government of Ricardo Rosselló. Just two days after the embattled politician announced he was stepping down on Aug. 2, a sense of normalcy and joy percolated in the touristy neighborhood. The scribbling on the walls demanding his resignation disappeared, and the city gleamed in the sunshine, while

the concrete barricade that kept demonstrators a block away from La Fortaleza became a memorial of the popular movement as well as a tourist attraction, with locals and travelers stopping by to take pictures. “What one destroys, one must rebuild,” Lety Díaz told to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL shortly after buying some crafts in a store on Resistencia Street, the new name protesters gave to Fortaleza Street after the massive demonstrations. Díaz and her husband, Marlon Villagra, participated in the demonstrations but, on this GO TO PAGE 4

>Gabriel López Albarrán

MEET THE WOMAN BEHIND THE LARGEST LOCAL MAKEUP BRAND P16

The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, July 31, 2019 > 2

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

A WEEK IN REVIEW PUERTO RICO GOVERNOR RICARDO ROSSELLÓ RESIGNS

U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT APPROVES T-MOBILE, SPRINT MERGER

GOV. ROSSELLÓ TO DESIGNATE PIERLUISI AS SECRETARY OF STATE

U.S. regulators have approved T-Mobile’s $26.5 billion takeover of rival Sprint, despite fears of higher prices and job cuts, in a deal that would leave just three major cellphone companies in the country. The approval from the Justice Department and five state attorneys general comes after Sprint and T-Mobile agreed to conditions that would set up satellite-TV provider Dish as a smaller rival to Verizon, AT&T and the combined T-Mobile-Sprint company. The Justice Department’s antitrust chief, Makan Delrahim, said the conditions set up Dish “as a disruptive force in wireless.” A federal judge must still sign off on the approval, as the two companies’ settlement with Justice includes conditions. The Federal Communications Commission is also expected to give the takeover its approval.

In a surprising twist in the island’s political sphere, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló is reportedly set to designate Pedro Pierluisi as the Secretary of State, meaning that he would be the next governor of Puerto Rico. Pierluisi was Rosselló’s opponent in the 2016 NPP primaries, but he lost by 2.16 percent. Although La Fortaleza has yet to confirm the information, New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. José “Quiquito” Meléndez confirmed to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that the NPP would block Pierluisi’s nomination due to his affiliation with the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) created by Congress under the P.R. Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (Promesa) of 2016. The legislator added that he would support Senate Leader Thomas Rivera Schatz for the position and, therefore, as governor-apparent.

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>Carlos Rivera Giusti

Ricardo Rosselló officially announced his resignation, 11 days after a leaked chat between him, his top Cabinet officials, and members of the private sector stirred controversy over corruption allegations and ethical implications. Rosselló’s resignation will go into effect on August 2, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. “In the past few days my love for Puerto Rico has been questioned. Being governor is an honor that involves sacrifice and work. I have dedicated my best years to this great project. Unlike past governments that did not admit failures, when I made mistakes, I accepted and amended them. To make mistakes is human, and I am as human as you. On many occasions, what we express as a joke or in anger does not define us as people. All we have accomplished over the past 30 months reveals our genuine commitment to Puerto Rico. Nothing can erase that truth,” Rosselló pointed out in a broadcasted message on July 24, 2019.

At some point during the demonstrations, protesters changed the name of Fortaleza Street to Resistencia Street to commemorate the movement that brought down Rosselló. >Photos by Gabriel López Albarrán

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Saturday morning, the couple was back in the area responding to the call of artists like Ricky Martin, who were asking people to visit Old San Juan in an attempt to mitigate the losses some businesses endured during the unrest. They were not alone. Since Friday, the day after the governor’s ouster, a steady stream of people trickled into the city to celebrate this remarkable chapter in the history of Puerto Rico and to support local businesses. From the start, concerns arose regarding the repercussions of the political crisis on the investment climate and in the economy. In the midst of the social unrest, some cruises skipped the San Juan port visit. But while some analysts claim this juncture is having a negative effect on the economy, for the president of Oriental Bank, José Rafael Fernández, “it is too premature” to know if this period of turbulence will have an impact on the economy, even in the short term. José Caraballo Cueto, an economist and assistant professor at the University of Puerto Rico’s Cayey campus, agreed with Fernández that it is too soon to assess the situation and determine if it affected the macroeconomy. He also warned about the risks of drawing analogies with countries were violent demonstrations disrupted the economy. “In Haiti, they ousted the prime minister but people died. Roads were blocked, cars were burned and businesses were looted and as a result the economy was disrupted. In France, during the yellow vests demonstrations businesses were looted, it was not that they closed, and yet, I read an article that said the economy as a whole didn’t suffer,” he indicated. Aside from the mostly peaceful tone of the protests, the situation in Puerto Rico also had another particularity: the picketers were concentrated in front of the governor’s mansion. The rest of the island went about business as usual. As Caraballo Cueto analyzed the political upheaval, he was aware that some retailers suffered individual losses but others, like restaurants, street vendors, Uber, and taxi drivers generated profits. In other instances, the economic activity was postponed.

“If you need a pair of shoes and Plaza Las Américas is closed, you return the next day or you go to another mall. We have to wait and see what happens to the businesses that lost revenue. Did they recuperate? Was this just a pause?” he indicated. The cruise ships cancellations, Caraballo Cueto noted, were net losses, but from his perspective, the impact on the economy was minuscule because these tourists usually spend a few hours on the island and don’t shell out a lot of money, aside from this being low season.

Positive Effect

Caraballo Cueto, historian Pedro Reina and economist Heriberto Martínez, concurred that the resignation of a governor that had lost the trust -an essential ingredient for governing- of the people, the federal government, the private sector, and even his own party, is good for the economy in the long run. For some people, the discontent with Rosselló’s performance began simmering with his handling of the emergency caused by Hurricane Maria almost two years ago and boiled over after the arrest of key members of his cabinet on alleged corruption charges and the leaking of a trove of derisive and profanitylaced messages between him and his advisors. A legal analysis of the chat’s content, commissioned by the president of Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives Carlos Méndez, identified five possible impeachable offenses, from illicitly using public resources for partisan purposes to misuse of public funds. “A place where people are willing to face their elected representatives demanding transparency and accountability is a bad place for corruption but a good place for investment,” argued Reina, an award-winning historian and journalist specializing in contemporary Spanish Caribbean history and the director of the Harvard Puerto Rico Winter Institute. More than fortitude, according to Reina, the protests have also revealed that Puerto Ricans have developed a wealth of social capital and civic solidarity, two qualities

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

sponsored by

The people were back in the area responding to the call of famous artists like Ricky Martin, who were asking people to visit Old San Juan in an attempt to mitigate the losses some businesses endured during the unrest. >Gabriel López Albarrán

needed to sustain a vibrant democracy and good governance. However, to maintain a sense of economic and social certainty, Caraballo Cueto, Reina and Martínez proposed that Rosselló should be replaced with a consensus appointee that can restore the credibility and trust in the government and work with all sectors.

“Our commitment is to ensure that Puerto Rico’s economic development continues and is strengthened by new measures and programs, such as the Incentive Code and Permit Process Reform, among other efforts. So we guarantee that investment and job creation projects that are essential for the benefit of the people Government are not stopped,” Reaction Laboy said in a press While the debate release. for the governor’s Other head of successor continues, agencies joined in to and recognizing reassure the business the ramifications and investment of the political community that crisis, Secretary of actions have been the Department taken to palliate the of Economic crisis. Development and Given the concerns, Commerce Manuel Rodrick Miller, first -Pedro Reina, director of the Harvard Laboy announced Executive Officer Puerto Rico Winter Institute that he’s met with of Invest Puerto representatives Rico, indicated that from the industrial, his team remains health, tourism, technology, medical devices, focused. “Although the situation continues to be and agricultural sectors to answer questions and delicate, the economic development infrastructure discuss the continuity of the business agenda.

A place where people are willing to face their elected representatives demanding transparency and accountability is a bad place for corruption but a good place for investment.

continues to operate: decrees continue to be signed, we continue to pursue opportunities and our conversations with potential investors continue,” Miller added. Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, also pointed out that the island’s destination marketing organization continues with promotional efforts at the same time it monitors all media coverage. “We remain a safe destination for tourists and there is no anticipated, at the moment, long-term impact on flight and hotel reservations,” Dean insisted. Despite government efforts, President Donald Trump suggested Puerto Rico cannot be trusted to manage federal aid and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González, the island’s nonvoting member of Congress, proposed the appointment of a federal coordinator to oversee Puerto Rico’s recovery. The day after Rosselló announced he was stepping down, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) notified him it would further restrict the island’s access to federal aid and implement a reimbursement process to access reconstruction assistance. Accordingly, Puerto Rican officials must now receive approval from FEMA to draw down funds related to Hurricanes Irma and Maria. But Omar Marrero, the executive director for the Central Office of Recovery and Reconstruction, said that these control policies are transitory and could be lifted when the new governor takes office.

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Last week, Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González, along with two fellow Republican lawmakers, wrote President Trump a letter requesting a federal coordinator for Puerto Rico. >Archive

Resident Commissioner: Federal Coordinator Important to Regain Trust in Washington D.C. Precedence established with Hurricane Katrina and other storms

T Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournal.com

@RosarioWJournal

he idea for a federal coordinator to oversee reconstruction funds has been batted around for months and now may be gaining traction after the recent arrests of former officials in the Ricardo Rosselló administration on

federal corruption charges. Credibility, trust and political stability lie at the heart of the matter, as billions of federal funds are at stake. The push for a federal coordinator came just as FEMA announced it had retaken control from the commonwealth government over how federal funds are received “as an additional step to protect the federal investment,” FEMA said in a statement. “Effective immediately, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico must receive approval from the agency

to drawdown all grant funds for Hurricanes Irma and Maria.” Last week, Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González, along with two fellow Republican lawmakers, wrote President Trump a letter, requesting a federal coordinator for Puerto Rico. “We are concerned that in light of recent events in Puerto Rico, the families of the island will not receive the support they need in a timely manner. It is evident that there is an urgent need to ensure

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

the coordination of critical decision making Rico, are going to be lost or delayed. We need the and guarantee proper use of disaster funding figure of a federal coordinator who can manage for the island’s families. Greater efficiency and and oversee [the funds] with all the federal transparency in disbursement of funds is needed agencies on the island,” González said. so that the people of Puerto Rico, U.S. taxpayers, and the Federal government Some Against can be confident in the results,” Several lawmakers on both reads the letter. sides of the aisle have come out “Ensuring sound management against the idea, including the and accountability is important Minority House Leader Rafael to this process. The people of Hernández, arguing it would Puerto Rico should not be the According to a interfere with public policy. ones who suffer for the local House Majority Leader José U.S. House administration’s improper Torres Zamora said there was no document on actions,” the missive adds. need for a federal coordinator the “Puerto Rico “Therefore, we consider it because the central government Office of Federal urgent that the implementation can manage the funds well. Coordinator,” of critical recovery and review Meanwhile, Senate Majority processes be supported dubbed OFC, a Leader Carmelo Ríos said to by direct federal oversight, THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that federal coordinator which can be achieved a federal coordinator will add is not another through action from your another bureaucratic layer in control board for administration. We encourage the process, a kind of parallel the island. you to establish a clearly defined government. “We aren’t clear federal coordinator for the if this federal coordinator will reconstruction of Puerto Rico. work with the Oversight Board This would be a valuable tool or if it will be a parallel entity. towards the goal of helping The federal funds already have those families and communities federal audits and accountability in need.” controls. A federal coordinator doesn’t know The letter was signed by González, Sen. Rick the Puerto Rican idiosyncrasy, and the local Scott (R-FL) and Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI). government already has the COR3 [Central Office The Resident Commissioner has been calling of Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency],” Ríos for a federal coordinator at least since February, said. when she met with White House Chief of Staff Mick The COR3 follows a strong policy of internal Mulvaney and proposed the idea. controls and full compliance with federal “We decided to get the letter out urgently regulations for the protection and disbursement because we cannot afford that all the funds that of federal funds. Ríos also said that other have been approved, which are almost $42 billion, jurisdictions like Louisiana—after Hurricane of which only $13 billion have arrived in Puerto Katrina—are still working on recovery efforts

In fact,

even though they had a federal coordinator.

Not a New Idea

In 2005, then President George W. Bush appointed a federal coordinator to oversee the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast after hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the region. The federal coordinator’s office was in existence for five years and served as a link among all the stakeholders in the recovery process. Federal coordinators were also named in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, after it caused destruction in the Northeast U.S., and Hurricane Harvey, which hit Southeast Texas in 2017. According to a U.S. House document on the “Puerto Rico Office of Federal Coordinator,” dubbed OFC, a federal coordinator is not another control board for the island. “The OFC is fully compatible with the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, enabling them to fully focus on debt restructuring and fiscal plans,” reads the report. If established, the OFC in Puerto Rico would get $8 million a year in Community Development Block Grant funds. The OFC also is not another obstacle for the Puerto Rico government. “Quite opposite, the OFC is a trusted third party and/or an ‘ad hoc’ federal stakeholder that can report fulfillment of reporting requirements on behalf of the P.R. Government, speeding up disbursement,” states the document. The purpose of the federal coordinator would be to “catalyze the disbursement of federal funds for Puerto Rico in a sustainable, transparent and accountable manner.” As with other OFCs, the entity will be temporary and will close “when Puerto Rico’s government can demonstrate the appropriate systems for assured and transparent management of federal funds.”

Nearly two years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is still waiting for billions in federal recovery aid to arrive. >Archive

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Leaders of more than 60 community organizations presented a letter to U.S. District Judge Swain on Wednesday requesting a pause to the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings over the island’s debt. >Archive

Swain Halts Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Process for 120 Days Christian G. Ramos

cramos@elvocero.com

@cramossegarra

All the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings over the island’s debt will be halted

mid the ongoing political crisis and the resignation of Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, the Federal District Court of Puerto Rico has ordered a four-month halt to all litigation filed this year under Tittle III of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). The decision was made by Judge Laura Taylor Swain at a general assembly held in July. During this assembly, it was also stated that the government’s adjustment plan would be further delayed. Martin Bienenstock, the attorney for the Federal Oversight Management Board (FOMB), indicated that the adjustment plan would be handed in within the next few weeks, as opposed

to within the “next 30 days” as he had stated at a meeting held on June 12th. Bienenstock commented that they are still gathering information and that the delay is due in part to ongoing negotiations with creditors. He went on to say that, even after they turn in the adjustment plan, they will not request an immediate assembly because they intend to keep negotiating with creditors. For her part, Judge Swain explained that the halt to litigation will also apply to a little less than twenty objections that were filed in the government’s bankruptcy case. She went on to say that this will allow the judge in that case, Barbara Houser, to identify which of these objections may best be resolved by negotiation. The halt, to which all attorneys agreed, lapses on November 30, 2019. Judge Swain, who has overseen the bankruptcy process since 2017, took a moment to reaffirm her commitment to the island and said that the current situation is very important to the country’s history and that she has been moved by the hope, pride and worry that Puerto Ricans have expressed in the past few weeks. “The goal should be to find a path that would allow the island to establish a solid education

system, to give its people a reason to stay and that contributes to the creation of a solid economy that fosters investment and contributes to a safer society,” she said. Swain also denied a motion from the FOMB that would establish an alternate resolution process to creditors’ claims that would normally be subject to litigation. Leaders of more than 60 community organizations presented a letter to U.S. District Judge Swain on Wednesday requesting that the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings over the island’s debt should be paused. “We are facing a historical situation that warrants an immediate stop to the bankruptcy proceedings. Currently, Puerto Rico does not have enough representatives in this legal process, from a government that has lost all political legitimacy and is about to collapse, to a Fiscal Control Board whose constitutionality is being discussed in the United States Supreme Court. We demand that the bankruptcy case be stopped, as happened after the impact of Hurricane Maria,” said Eva Prados, the spokeswoman for the “Construyamos otro Acuerdo” (“Let’s Make Another Agreement”), in a statement.

< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, July 31, 2019

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Teaching Economics Beyond the Numbers

President of Economists Association debunks idea of the ‘dismal science’

F Rosario Fajardo

Alba Brugueras, the president of the Puerto Rico Economists Association, is on a mission to bring the term “economics” down to earth. >Gabriel López Albarrán

rfajardo@wjournal.com

@RosarioWJournal

or many, the word “economics” conjures up the sophisticated world of finance, Wall Street and the stock market—and lots of math: calculus, statistics, complex mathematical models and the like. Say “economics” and quite frankly, people’s eyes often glaze over or they run away. While economics does include all of the above, the reality is that we also live and breathe economics in everything we do in our daily lives. Alba Brugueras, the president of the Puerto Rico Economists Association, is on a mission to bring the term “economics” down to earth. A “dismal science” is what Victorian historian Thomas Carlyle called economics. Robert L. Heilbroner was more positive, calling economists the “worldly philosophers” in his classic tome of the same name. In Brugueras’ eyes, economics is part and parcel of our daily lives. “All the decisions we make touch upon economics. What products do you choose at the grocery store? Where do you go for coffee? What about lunch? What to study at college? What kind of car do you have? What kind of house?” she asked rhetorically. In the same way that a government has to distribute limited resources through its budget, so too do individual households, she indicated. “Your salary is part of your resources. If you don’t have enough for your expenses, then you have to cut somewhere just as governments do. What we do on an individual basis is microeconomics. The macro is the whole economy,” Brugueras said in an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. She said that as a professor at Sacred Heart University’s Business Administration Department, she focuses on bringing the rarefied world of economics down to a level that is practical, modern and innovative at the same time. Brugueras acknowledges that math can be intimidating for most people. With that in mind, she often uses videos, podcasts and photos, among other teaching tools, in her classes. In today’s world, interaction with students is important, she said.

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Puerto Rico’s Río Piedras Campus, and has been teaching at Sacred Heart since 2012.

charges in his administration and a chat scandal. For many people, the contents of a leaked chat with the governor and his inner circle were the last straw, as they contained homophobic, misogynistic and Panorama in offensive language. Puerto Rico While the governor Alba Brugueras, president of the Remains Uncertain had apologized for his Puerto Rico Economists Association Saying that Puerto behavior and many Rico is living through of those in the chat a “very complex” time, left their posts, the Brugueras said if the crisis in government can protests continued and Rosselló was forced to be resolved fairly quickly, the economy will not resign, effective Aug. 2. be severely affected. The recent protests were Brugueras said Puerto Rico has been in a “deep primarily held in Old San Juan and, while some recession, a depression” for many years, and it is commercial centers were affected by a massive important to take the appropriate measures so demonstration in Hato Rey, the economic impact that the government crisis does not expand and should be limited. affect the economy even more. But if the government crisis is prolonged, then “What kind of country do we want? Where do yes, Puerto Rico would have to contend with the we want to go? Civil society needs to be involved negative effects of lost production, continuing in this process so that we can create an economic migration and a lack of confidence in the business development plan that is sustainable,” she said. and investment communities, she indicated. The power of the Financial Oversight and For more than two weeks, outgoing Gov. Ricardo Management Board has not changed with respect Rosselló had been beset by daily protests calling to the Puerto Rico government, she noted. “The for his resignation, due to federal corruption

What kind of country do we want? Where do we want to go? Civil society needs to be involved in this process so that we can create an economic development plan that is sustainable. -

panorama remains uncertain, but the people have learned that they have an effective voice and they are very committed. There has been a change in mentality.”

Amid massive demonstrations, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló resigned effective Aug. 2, becoming Puerto Rico’s first governor to step down before finishing the four-year tenure for which he was elected. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

More Jobs Available but Less Personnel Official urges intervention from private and educational sectors

D Ileanexis Vera Rosado

ivera@elvocero.com

@iverarosado

ue to low labor force participation and an increase in available jobs, Elda Parés, the assistant secretary of Planning, Research & Development in charge of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Labor, urged the private and educational sectors to combine their efforts in order to mobilize the available labor force. Although experts say that there are open work positions on the island, the labor force participation rate remains at 40 percent, which means that four out of ten Puerto Ricans who are

able to work are not part of the labor force. The Bureau estimates that this is due to the fact that the salaries offered are less beneficial than staying at home and living off available government assistance. In light of this, Parés said that it is time for the private and educational sectors to combine their efforts so as to be able to offer the trained personnel that companies need. She also stated that the private sector should better identify its needs and mentioned that there weren’t details on which positions are difficult to fill. The official said that 65 percent of jobs in Puerto Rico come from the service sector and only 23 percent of jobs are from the public sector. “Years ago, this [latter] percentage reached 40 percent and we have been reducing it slowly. Now it is time for the private sector to employ that staff that wants to work. We cannot intervene in what the employer wants to offer its employees, but we understand that they must offer wages that allow for and make it attractive to want to work. Now it is up to the private sector to do its part and to allow

that workforce to join in,” she stated. Although Parés understands that the low labor force participation may have to do with the more than 130,000 people who moved out of the island last year, a population decline of 14 percent compared to the results of the 2010 Census, their surveys do not address this issue. “That data does not appear in the survey. However, we can confirm that the discouraged people—who are no longer actively seeking employment—have declined by 7,000 month by month. In addition, 13,000 jobs have been generated on the island in 2017-2018 as a result of the recovery from hurricanes Irma and Maria. They aren’t the desired levels, but we have improved. Likewise, the participation rate increased by 0.4 percentage points in 2017-2018, a figure that is not enough, but reflects some improvement,” she added. Despite the situation, the government has also reiterated a drop in unemployment. However, analysts affirm that the agency’s statistics are not entirely true because they understand that the reduction in unemployment strictly responds to the fact that the island has 400,000 fewer people who are not seeking employment because they have already emigrated.

Reaction to Temporary Jobs

Parés acknowledged that there are special seasons—such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas—in which part-time jobs increase. Alas, she said that full-time jobs are the norm. In 2018, there was an increase of 53,000 full-time jobs. She affirmed that 63.7 percent of workers in Puerto Rico work more than 40 hours per week. “We have experienced a decrease of 19,000 [people] who work less than 34 hours per week. Contrary to perception, jobs continue to be created from month to month. From May to June, 5,000 additional jobs were created,” she said.

Self-employment on the Rise

Parés, who is also an economist, affirmed that, in addition to salaried jobs, self-employment has increased significantly in Puerto Rico. According to the agency’s surveys, in 2017-2018 13,000 jobs were classified as self-employment. “Entrepreneurship has begun to gain ground and it represents an important segment to follow the upward trend in job creation and in reducing unemployment,” Parés stated.

www.elvocero.com/revistas/mirame

< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, July 31, 2019

It's your moment to shine.

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Meet the woman behind the island’s largest selling brand of nail polishes

Bettina I

Cynthia López Cabán

Mercado and the Color

of Success

clopez@wjournal.com

t is obvious from the moment she walks through the door that Bettina Mercado is not your typical entrepreneur. The petite woman -that looks taller thanks to her platform shoes- is all smiles as she greets me with the warmth of an old friend, even though this is the first time we meet

and talk. The president of the largest selling brand of nail polishes on the island and the first cosmetics line designed in Puerto Rico is punctual and relaxed as she shows me the headquarters of Bettina Cosmestics in Dorado, a bright and airy open workspace that embodies the company’s ethos. Her eyes sparkle and the pitch of her voice changes when she talks about the humble beginnings of the family business. Far from the old school model of the stony-faced boss, Bettina doesn’t mind showing emotion, being human. But don’t be fooled by her unorthodox approach, she is an uncanny businesswoman with an innate instinct for business and a management style that seeks consensus, participation and partnerships even from competitors. And it’s working. Bettina Cosmetics accounts for 49.1 percent of the nail polish market on the island, where it competes with big international names like Revlon, Maybelline, Essie, and OPI. Last year, nail polish sales in Puerto Rico generated close to $49 million, according to the data analytics company Nielsen. This year sales are up and inching to $52 million. Data gathered by the German firm Statista reveals that in the United States, nail polish sales in 2018 generated approximately $569 million.

What is the Recipe for Success?

Since Bettina Mercado became the president of Bettina Cosmetics she has infused a new zeal into the beloved brand of nail polishes. >Photos by Gabriel López Albarrán

@cynthia_lope

At the helm of the company since 2001, the former actress infused a new zeal into the beloved brand of nail polishes when her parents Julia and Víctor Mercado asked her to take over the business. As part of her vision, she also broadened the company’s scope by venturing into the realm of makeup (from foundation and eyeshadow palettes to brow fillers and brushes) and, in the near future, will launch a skincare line. “The sky is the limit,” Bettina told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. It’s not just dreaming. Bettina, 50, is a tireless worker and an intuitive businesswoman. After Hurricane Maria ravaged the company’s headquarters forcing the business to shut down temporarily, she joined community initiatives working in the restoration process and listened to women talk about how the disaster had forced them to change their beauty routines. In addition, the losses reported in the coffee industry also moved and encouraged her to take action. Her community involvement led to the fall 2018

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

The collection “Choose Your Power” celebrates women and creates awareness about violence against women. On the bottom of these bottles, the company included the number to the Women’s Advocate Office’s hotline. >Gabriel López Albarrán

line baptized “Coffeeology” based on the different to New York in the 50s looking for opportunities. shades of coffee with milk. As part of the effort, Six years later they were back in Mayagüez Bettina Cosmetics partnered with the School of empty handed. With the help of her mother’s Coffee and Baristas to offer scholarships and help old employer, in 1963 Julia and Víctor started develop the next generation of baristas and coffee distributing an Italian brand of nail polishes. The growers on the island. best-seller turned out to be a cream color named “Maria changed the way we did marketing. Bettina. We create collections addressing needs... We do “When I was born, they named me Bettina socially conscious marketing because we want because it had special meaning to them. Later, to work with issues that mean something to the in 1983 they registered the name as a brand and country,” the mother of José Remi explained. started an artisan operation. The first line had 19 For example, Bettina launched the collection nail polishes,” narrated the businesswoman. “Choose Your Power” to celebrate women but to Bettina never dreamed of being the face of her also create awareness parents’ company. She about violence against studied drama at New women. According to York University and the United Nations, had relocated to the 35 percent of women Big Apple when her worldwide have parents approached experienced physical her to take over. and sexual violence Since she became at some point in their the president of the lives. To help women in company the operation need, on the bottom of has evolved and each bottle of the line, expanded to other the company included markets. The once the phone number for island-exclusive brand -Bettina Mercado, the Women’s Advocate can be found in Florida, Office hotline (787-722where a wave of Puerto president of Bettina Cosmetics 2977). Ricans have relocated “Sometimes I think in the aftermath of of the story and later Maria, and online. But in the color I feel represents the place or the Bettina, who is married to entertainer José Vega, story or it could be the other way around. With is also in conversations to sell her products in the ‘Coffeeology’, I got milk and coffee and started Dominican Republic and Panama. mixing both ingredients looking for all the tones,” Last year, she also hired a chemist to create Bettina indicated of her creative process. her own lab. At present, the nail polishes are It doesn’t end with a concept or a deeper manufactured in Puerto Rico but some of the connection with customers. Three qualities cosmetics are produced in Florida, others are account for Bettina Cosmetics’ success: price, assembled here. quality and durability. “It is what we call masstige, Not everything is perfect in the world of beauty. which refers to products that are premium but Bettina has encountered sexism. “I have come attainable.” across some men that think that I am too young Bettina is five feet, one inch tall. But her for this position... Others don’t believe that I am presence and energy make her look taller, much the boss,” Bettina exclaimed. taller. She talks passionately about her 150 color “There was a time when women dressed more collection, her makeup line and her parents’ story. masculine, with suits, to prove their competence Like many Puerto Ricans, the couple emigrated and blend in the business world. Nowadays

Maria changed the way we did marketing. We create collections addressing needs... We do socially conscious marketing because we want to work with issues that mean something to the country.

women are happy with their femininity. They wear makeup, do their nails and tell men ‘deal with it’. Women are no longer getting the coffee, they are making the decisions.” After two decades in the industry, the businesswoman has noticed changes. Consumers are embracing brands that are environmentally conscious, more natural, cruelty-free and don’t have harmful ingredients or carcinogens. Bettina does not test its products on animals and has eliminated unsafe additives. Her next project is to promote entrepreneurship by using her distribution platform to help others sell their products. “I think that local brands have to come together and not view each other as competition in order to create a solid manufacturing industry. We have to help each other,” Bettina concluded.

Bettina Cosmetics accounts for 49.1 percent of the nail polish market on the island.

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Millennial Business Owners More Open to Change Expert affirms this generation is willing to take greater risks

Ileanexis Vera Rosado

ivera@elvocero.com

@iverarosado

n light of the changes that have impacted the local market for the last decade, the key for small- and midsize businesses (pymes) to thrive lies in their capacity to reconceptualize their operations and offers, and their ability to respond to consumers’ new and diverse needs. In this challenging environment, there are already generational ruptures, where millennials show a more natural attitude toward change and search for unorthodox alternatives to boost the growth of their businesses, which shows them clear results. Juan Sosa Varela, a dean and professor in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship of the Ana G. Méndez University, said that business owners who have managed to make necessary changes at the right time have been the ones who have been able to survive and avoid being included in closure statistics. Sosa Varela recently gave a conference in the United Retailers Association (CUD by its Spanish acronym), titled, “Perspectives on Pymes’ Transformation and Growth,” in which he stressed that—on many occasions—refusing to adapt a business to change is a generational issue. “The youth, especially the millennials segment, are more receptive. They are more recent generations that have the vision to acknowledge opportunities and they look for them. It is a business segment that we have witnessed in our universities, that seeks other experiences and are willing to take greater risks and develop their businesses. As such, we understand that there will be a rise in the pymes segment in terms of units,” he punctuated. He maintained that this growth should be primarily registered in services or retailers, but he believes that there needs to be greater participation in manufacturing, which can lead to more jobs and greater wealth for Puerto Rico’s

economic development. Sosa Varela acknowledged that the retail segment is currently the most vulnerable and posing the most difficulties, given that purchasing options are available in a myriad of platforms, beyond shopping centers and traditional stores. “If this group (of traditional businesses) doesn’t change, reconceptualize its business model or broaden its sales platforms it will disappear. Technology is advancing at a great speed, which is why, within two to three years, all businesses will have to establish some of the aspects of the socalled artificial intelligence or augmented reality. These are concepts that must be implemented sooner or later to remain operational,” he said. He also listed opportunity areas for pymes, such as providing added value and offering an experience, because there are many consumers willing to pay for differentiation and good or personalized service, which leads to an upsurge in niche markets. Sosa Varela identified areas such as gastronomy, beauty, and tourism as offering plentiful growth opportunities, and affirmed that they are already adapting to changes. Different initiatives have emerged as a result, such as Airbnb and untraditional tourism, among others. Adapting to Challenges in the Business Environment Sosa Varela affirmed that pymes need to face the changes on consumer expectations, which are many, and acknowledge that anything can be a competition in the globalized market.

“Broaching these challenges requires new ideas and an understanding of how to address them effectively. For this, there is a need to organize and sway people, develop sustainable organizations, and create value. In pymes, each of those processes must be made swiftly and quickly, contrary to big companies, where there is too much bureaucracy,” he explained. He said that a pyme owner needs to embrace values that cater to artistic, local, customized, and authentic products or services because it would allow that business to stand out. In addition, business owners must be responsive in order to handle issues in the shortest possible time. He mentioned that small businesses can be more responsive and agile with quick releases of products, services or offers thanks to new technologies and digital platforms. “To achieve this success, the pyme has to keep its eyes wide open to changes in the market, focus on details and not serve the average consumer, but rather focus on segments. They have to understand the adjacent industries, identify growing pockets, and take action at the right time,” Sosa Varela said. “For a pyme to be disruptive, they have to focus on four key areas: reconceptualizing the market, focusing on the consumer, and committing to it and leading without fear,” he added.

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

By Edgardo Vicenty

By Maria de los A. Rivera, CPA

Entrepreneur and Financial Analyst

Kevane Grant Thornton LLP

Let’s Fix Welfare in Puerto Rico

ccording to the World Bank, Puerto Rico has one of the ten lowest labor participation rates in the world. Only 4 out of every 10 people who can work are currently employed or actively seeking employment. Economists have constantly pointed to this statistic when they talk about Puerto Rico’s recession but little, if anything, has been done to try to fix it. Popular folklore states that exceedingly generous welfare benefits are the root cause of low labor participation. This welfare has enabled multiple generations of (vagos) lazy people to live off the state without contributing their fair share to the economy. This is a compelling story, but when you take a real look at the numbers, you can quickly tell free-riding and laziness are not the main drivers of this issue. It’s a simple analysis; the amount of money and benefits people on welfare receive in Puerto Rico is not enough to live on. Which means most people must be doing something on the side to make ends meet. Working on the underground economy for below minimum wage salaries is a well-known phenomenon on the island. But economists and politicians choose to ignore it because it’s hard to explain with traditional theories. Their models can’t explain why these people work for below minimum wage and without labor law protections when there are plenty of legal jobs in the food service industry. They also have a hard time understanding employers who hire these people illegally when they can’t expense their

salaries. It’s quite simple really, under Puerto Rico’s current welfare system, individuals lose their benefits almost as soon as they start to generate income. This also happens in the states, but, in Puerto Rico, the income threshold for losing welfare is considerably lower and well below the poverty line. Therefore, individuals have gamed the system by working on the side and complementing that income with welfare. Small businesses have had to make accommodations for this type of employee because otherwise they would have limited access to a workforce. They make up for not being able to expense employee salaries by lowering wages and increasing work hours; it’s a lose/lose. Like many other things in Puerto Rico, welfare is a mess, but there is an easy fix, Universal Basic Income. Universal Basic Income would help eliminate the perverse incentives mentioned above. Our government should be lobbying Congress, presidential candidates and supporters of this idea for Puerto Rico to be its testing ground. Like I mentioned in last month’s column, Congress can legally discriminate against Puerto Rico, so it can change our welfare laws without affecting the States. Being a “remote” island with a small population makes this the perfect testing spot for such a concept. Puerto Rico has to become relevant to the mainland; being an economic, social, and immigration testing hub for projects that we choose and that have the potential to immensely help our population is a great way to start.

The 123’s of Opportunity Zones

lot is being said lately in Puerto Rico about opportunity zones. On May 14 of this year, the governor signed Law 21-2019 to adopt the tax benefits in Puerto Rico that the federal opportunity zones program establishes. In addition, it creates a new incentive program for priority projects that will help the recovery and economic development of certain designated areas on the island. Before entering the discussion of Law 21, which was later included as part of the Incentives Code in Law 60-2019, in this first article, we will discuss the basics of the federal program, as they are essential to the local law enforcement. Overall, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 created the Opportunity Zones program in the United States to attract investment and generate economic development in depressed areas. Puerto Rico is part of this program and by special disposition, a large part of the island has been designated as a qualified opportunity zone. So, how does the program work? An eligible taxpayer generates an eligible gain and invests a similar amount in a qualified opportunity fund (”QOF”) and the income tax on the gain invested is deferred if the taxpayer keeps the investment for at least 5 years, he/she will only pay income tax on 90 percent of the gain. If kept for at least 7 years, only 85 percent of the gain will be taxed .The deferred gain must be recognized no later than December 31, 2026. The real benefit of the program is that, if the investment in the QOF is maintained for at least 10 years, the profit generated by the investment will be completely exempt from income tax.

There are several terms defined in the federal law and regulations that are vital for the investment in the QOF to qualify for above benefits: Eligible taxpayers who generate an eligible gain and timely invest in a proprietary interest in a QOF that in turn invests in Qualified Opportunity Zone Property or Business. Any taxpayer subject to federal income tax on capital gains qualifies for the incentives. This includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, estates and others. Eligible gains are shortterm or long-term capital gains and any gains that receive capital gain treatment. Eligible taxpayers have 180 days including the day on which the gain is realized to invest an amount equal to part or all of the gain in a qualified opportunity fund (”QOF”). The QOF must be a domestic entity for United States tax purposes (including entities created in Puerto Rico) that is treated as a corporation or partnership. The QOF must invest in property in the qualified opportunity zone. The main purpose of the program is to attract investment to designated areas, so QFOs must maintain at least 90 percent of the assets contributed by investors in qualified property: shares, issued after December 31, 2017, of corporations operating a business in the QOZ, interest issued after December 31, 2017, in partnerships operating a business in the QOZ or tangible property used in the QOZ. The law and regulations lay down additional requirements for businesses operating in the QOZ and for the property used in these businesses. These, like the incentives included in Law 21- 2019 will be explained in the following articles in this series.

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Lin-Manuel

Returns to Santurce

In The Heights, his first musical, will go on stage in May 2020

L Yomaris Rodríguez

yrodriguez@elvocero.com

@yomarisr

in-Manuel Miranda will return to the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center (CBA) in Puerto Rico with his award-winning musical “In The Heights” on May 2020. The play, which premiered

on Broadway in 2008, has won four Tony Awards, a Grammy and was a finalist in the drama category of the Pulitzer Prize. “Lin-Manuel loves his people very much and wants to resume his presentations here, where he was in 2010, at the Festival Hall. There are other reasons as to why, what with Hamilton working out very well. It was an event of great worldwide exposure for the performing arts center and Puerto Rico,” Jetppeht Pérez, general manager of the CBA in Santurce told the THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. Miranda requested the dates for the performances back in April, just two months after personifying Alexander Hamilton on that same stage.

“It’s going to be on stage for five weekends, with a minimum of 15 functions but we can go up to twenty-one. These are very large projects and we have demonstrated our ability to work them. With that, the CBA fulfills its mandate to conserve and enrich our culture in the broadest way, “ added Pérez, prior to stating that Miranda will take part in the spectacle. 2020 will also see the release of the movie version of the play, with Miranda as one of the producers and under the direction of Jon M. Chu, of “Crazy Rich Asians”. Anthony Ramos, Olga Merediz, Jimmy Smith, Gregory Díaz, Dascha Polanco, Melissa Barrera, Marc Anthony, Corey Hawkins and Leslie Grace will also star in the performance which will also feature Lin-Manuel as “Piragua Guy”.

Interest of Chinese Investors

Lin-Manuel Miranda >AP

After Hamilton’s successful run at the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, other productions have approached the center to use its stages for large scale shows. In addition, local producers have now seen that their request for licenses is more streamlined than before. “Chinese investors met with me to learn about the facilities and determine if its possible to bring large circus and acrobatic events. They would be hosting musicals with martial arts, dance and music; I have not seen anything like that. The Festival Hall has the needed space for the event.. they will now study the market to to see if its plausible to have three or four week runs,” he explained. The CBA of Santurce closed the fiscal year on June 30 with 519 functions. “The average number of events ranges from 280 to

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The Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center (CBA, by its Spanish acronym) >Carlos Rivera Giusti

289 and 380 to 390 annually. Despite the uncertainty it was possible to close with 519 functions, because of new types of events. 58 student functions were performed, with an attendance of 65,570 students, and the average used to be 17 to 25 functions,” he said. “Despite the crisis, this has been the year with the highest income in the history of the CBA, this includes leasing of rooms, box office, parking, services to the producer, food and drinks. The total was $ 3,375,696, the closest we ever got was in 2006 with $ 2,600,000. This is due in part to a more agile process of granting rooms and dates. We have also diversified the offerings: corporate, popular, on the platform, stand-up, press conferences and children’s theater. With this we have captured a new audience,” he said. The CBA’s budget is $ 3,064,000, two and a half million less than usual, of which $1,120,000 is used annually in the payment of electricity. They have just installed new carpeting in the René Marqués Room, restored the ornamental fountain, painted the interior and remodeled the freight elevator, which has not been done in 25 years.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning musical “In the Heights” also will hit theaters in 2020 as a summer-event movie. > AP/Archive

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Local Guide to

Artisanal

Bakeries and Pastry shops

as soon as they announce on their app that the goods are ready. Among their most popular pastries are quesitos, the traditional Puerto Rican cream-cheese filled pastry that can be found in almost every Puerto Rican bakery. These sell out fast, as the amount they make is limited due to the complicated process it takes to make them. What sets Double Cake apart is their commitment to baking fresh products every day. “All our products are made from scratch, even down to the mixing of the flours we use,” said Lozano, head baker and co-owner of the shop. At first, Lozano was hesitant to include traditional Puerto Rican flavors like guava in the menu, but she soon realized that the public actually looks for these ingredients in every bakery they go to. Throughout the years, Double Cake’s customers have proven to be loyal, allowing Lozano and her crew to get creative and experiment with different creations, like their unique Beer’con cupcake; a cupcake made with beer and bacon. Just last year, Double Cake created an area behind the shop where they give baking and cake decorating lessons. The 8-space classes are so popular that people put reminders on their phones so they can be the first ones to sign up once Lozano opens the registry online, which is toward the end of each month. They are open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. to 7 p.M.

A new wave of young entrepreneurs in the baking industry introduce their fresh and innovative creations

W Claudia Guerrero Negrón

newsroom@wjournal.com

@cguerreronegron

ho doesn’t love an afternoon delight with a cup of coffee, chocolate or tea to brighten up the day or calm down those sweet cravings? In the past few years, a number of small, locally-owned bakeries have popped up, offering the Puerto Rican customer new and refined desserts. Although desserts and pastries are a staple of Puerto Rican culture, we are hesitant to try new things. However, when something is undoubtedly delicious, there isn’t much need for convincing. The Puerto Rican customer will come back. That has been the case with these recently opened bakeries, offering highquality products that are new to the Puerto Rican palette but that have already become favorites. Here is your local guide to some of the best pastry shops in San Juan:

Double Cake’s vegan Red Velvet cupcakes.

Double Cake

Double Cake is a small but insanely delicious bakery shop that is located on Loíza street. Their daily rotating menu includes eight different products. Among these are carrot cupcakes, baby s’mores pies, chocolate shortbread cookie bars, monkey breads, pineapple-coconut minicakes, different types of breads like romero, Mediterranean and pepper-infused, and of course, cakes that are baked fresh every day and sell out

Lucía Patisserie’s chocolate tart with raspberries.

Lucía PatisseriE

Lucía Merino and her partner, Johan Villafañe, traveled all around the world before realizing that Puerto Rico was where they wanted to establish their shop. Merino, a thoroughly trained pastry chef, always imagined opening her own shop, but it took a little traveling for her to realize that Puerto Rico’s warm community was the one she wanted to serve. Born out of Merino’s grandmother’s kitchen,

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

she was able to create Lucía Patisserie thanks to a kickstarter campaign for donations, which allowed her and Villafañe to buy the expensive kitchen equipment they needed. The small shop located in Miramar, offers guests delicious French-inspired pastries like eclairs and croissants, different flavored cakes and savory products like quiches filled with spinach and swiss cheese and black forest ham croissants with goat cheese and red pepper jelly. Marvelous and unique creations like their croissant bread pudding with pecans and chocolate chunks, and their Frasier Cake with fresh strawberries from Sweetwater Farm in Barranquitas and pistachio mousseline cream are available every Saturday. Merino makes an effort to use local products as much as possible, saying that this accounts for the freshness of her products. Crowd favorites like the guava and cheese handpie, made with local guava jam and fresh cheese from a farm in Caguas, are always on the menu. For now, the shop only opens on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. but Merino hopes to eventually be able to open on Fridays and Sundays.

sweet curved pastry usually filled with almond paste. Thinking that this would be a bread-based business, four months later, the couple opened a kitchen and started offering breakfast and soups as part of their menu. Among the crowd favorites is a round croissant with layers of caramelized sugar and butter, also known as “the fattiest pastry in all of Europe” called Kouign Amann. On their breakfast menu, the pumpkin French toasts, which were initially meant as a Fall offering, turned out to be a winner and ended up permanently on the menu due to its high demand. El Horno de Pane is located in San Juan and is open from Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the kitchen closing at 4 p.m.

Spiga Café

Diego San Miguel’s Campesino bread loaf. El Horno de Pane’s popular Kouign Amann croissant pastry.

El Horno de Pane

When Carlos Ruíz and Alice Pérez met, many of their conversations revolved around bread. 12 years later and after a lot of studying, the bread enthusiasts decided to put their all into what would be known as El Horno de Pane, or Bread Oven, a boutique bakery that offers different types of breads created using European techniques. “It is hard because “boricuas” are used to a very soft and sweet type of bread, known as “pan sobao”. We don’t make that here, so we were scared to offer a new type of product, we weren’t sure if it would work,” said Pérez, who manages the shop while Ruíz runs the kitchen as head baker. In the beginning, it was hard for the couple to explain their offerings which, although delicious, many people were hesitant to try because they were new to the market. In January of 2017, the artisan bakery started selling 18 to 20 different types of bread including baguettes, sourdough, rye, multigrain, focaccia and ciabatta, and 15 to 20 different pastries every week, among them, Nutella danishes, almond and pistachio croissants and chocolate bear claws, a

that is made with walnuts. For now, San Miguel sells his breads to restaurants and coffee shops like Boca, Compostela, Café con C, Café Regina, 1919, Cocina al Fondo and Prole, while he finishes the permit process for his own locale.

Panoteca

“It is truly a labor of love,” said novice breadmaker, Diego San Miguel, when speaking of his one-man show. San Miguel, who says he is influenced by time spent studying breadmaking in France and working at the Panadería Morales in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, the only bakery willing to give the young baker a shot, says he makes each and every bread with love. San Miguel takes to the classics seriously as he firmly believes in the traditional techniques of breadmaking, although he also likes to experiment within that traditionality. He makes the usual European classic breads: Brioche, Sourdough and Focaccia; but he also likes to bring in traditional Puerto Rican breads like the mallorca, a sweet and soft pastry with powdered sugar lightly sprinkled on top. It is considered a Puerto Rican classic, and San Miguel vowed to stay true to his Puerto Rican roots when developing his line of premium breads. Firmly believing that the flavor should come from the actual bread itself instead of adding a lot of ingredients like chocolate or raisins, he stays away from breads with a lot of garnishes in them; for San Miguel, the simpler, the better. However, he does like to experiment from time to time, creating breads like the Cascanueces, a bread

When Iván del Toro couldn’t find quality bread distributors who would sell their bread in his newly acquired shop in Old San Juan, he had no other choice but to learn how to make a natural, healthy and delicious bread from scratch. “I got bit by the bread bug,” said del Toro, who, together with his partner Katia Bobonis, acquired the space after Hurricane Maria destroyed what was there before. Del Toro makes his bread with wholemeal flour, a natural, non-commercial alternative in breadmaking in which there is a longer fermentation process which allows for natural fungi and bacteria to break down the gluten in the dough. Del Toro does not bleach his flour with potassium bromate either, a food additive that has been banned in many parts of the world including Europe and countries in Asia due to its carcinogen properties. This chemical is used to age dough faster, a process that Del Toro says is imperative for the integrity of good, non-harmful bread. Spiga serves breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and lunch until 3:30 p.m. For breakfast, one of their most popular items is the baked eggs with prosciutto, cherry tomatoes and goat cheese, accompanied with a slice of bread that they include with all their breakfast options. As a delicious lunch option, try their sandwiches with San Francisco Sourdough made in-house. Amongst their most delectable sandwiches is one with fig marmalade, brie cheese, prosciutto, local arugula and mustard. In the sweets department, their famous chocolate chip cookies steal the show. Crunchy on the outside as nut shavings and sea salt coat a soft interior full of melted chocolate chips from Chocolate Cortes, a nearby establishment that makes and distributes their own chocolate. They also make sourdough bread pudding muffins with cinnamon and raisins and sell bread loafs every Thursday and Friday. Although they have plans to add a tapas menu and to open on the weekends for brunch, for now, they are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Paulina Escanes –

Gourmandize Culinary Delights in a Homely Environment Expand your palette with a menu inspired by the owner’s extensive travels

A Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournal.com

@giopgarofalo

n intriguing variety of foods awaits in Paulina Escanes – Gourmandize. Located in the Condado— an affluent area surrounded by hotels, lavish residences, and beautiful beaches—this restaurant is steadily becoming a favorite among locals. THE WEEKLY JOURNAL had the opportunity to taste firsthand some of its exquisite offerings, as well as to talk with the head chef and proprietor, Paulina Escanes. A lively and adventurous spirit, Escanes explained that the entire concept of her restaurant was inspired by her many travels and her unending passion for conveying that same cultural enrichment through satisfying and

The croquettes are made with shredded brisket and a creamy purple coleslaw, but for this occasion, she prepared its upcoming replacement, made with rice, cheese and vegetables, and served with fresh beets and garlic mayo on the side. >Photos by Gabriel López Albarrán

delicious meals. A native of Guadalajara, Escanes explained that she had been exposed to different ingredients, techniques and cuisines both in her native Mexico and in her international adventures. However, her foray into professional cooking was through a dessert business she owned, in which she would make sugary confections to sell to restaurants. “I sold the dessert business and I took a sabbatical for about three years and then, after the sabbatical, I realized that I needed to return to my career,” Escanes said. Shortly thereafter, she opened a small restaurant in Santurce’s Loíza street at a space

“Pescado Amalfi,” inspired by Amalfi’s summer lemons.

she shared with a clothing and antique store. After Hurricane Maria in 2017, she was forced to close the shop, but Escanes and her husband—a Puerto Rican—quickly found a location on Ashford Avenue; a hotspot for bars, restaurants, and nightlife in a city environment. “When we saw the space and the community in Condado, we fell in love and we decided to take it. And, contrary to the other place, we have better operational hours here,” the owner stated. Paulina Escanes – Gourmandize has an ambitious schedule, serving meals every day of the week. From Monday to Friday, the restaurant is open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. with no breaks. On Saturdays, she cooks up brunch from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and on Sundays, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. After brunch ends on the weekend, the restaurant serves its regular dining menu until 10 p.m. As for her culinary offer, she made a point to emphasize that, although she is Mexican and her menu includes some Mexican items, Paulina Escanes – Gourmandize is not by any means a traditional Mexican restaurant, given that she gets inspired by her trips abroad. She gracefully allowed THE WEEKLY JOURNAL to try her croquettes and the “Pescado Amalfi.” Presently, the croquettes in the menu are made with shredded brisket and a creamy purple coleslaw, but for this occasion, she prepared its

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

upcoming replacement, made with rice, cheese and vegetables, and served with fresh beets and garlic mayo on the side. The four croquettes, called “Croquetas Pupplí,” were enormous, but their size paled in comparison to their immense flavor— creamy, savory, and oh, so mouthwatering. As the croquettes vanished from the plate, Escanes explained that the transition from brisket to vegetables is part of her efforts to limit her restaurant’s ecological impact, as well as to offer more vegetarian options. She stressed that she and other restauranteurs in the area are coordinating to reduce their waste by collecting scraps to create compost. Her commitment to the environment extends down to the biodegradable straws she offers at the restaurant, which are available upon request. After the croquettes, Escanes served the “Pescado Amalfi,” inspired by Amalfi’s summer lemons. The dish was comprised of a fresh catch of the day over toasted capers, a clarified buttery sauce and wild rice made with almonds and leeks. Surpassing all expectations, one bite is enough to enamor. The fish was fresh, buttery and extremely savory, while the rice offered a variety of textures and undertones, largely in - Paulina Escanes part by the toastiness of the almonds. Escanes explained that the catch of the day is brought in by local fishermen, adding that everything on the menu is prepared with local products or provided by local suppliers. The extensive list of local businesses that she supports includes Fresh Fish PR, Aulet Dairy, Queso de K-bra, Frutos del Guacabo, El Horno de Pane, Alcor Foods Chorizo, Drouyn, Don Luis, Puente Selections, Feliche Artisan Yogurt, V. Suárez and more. In celebration of the restaurant’s first anniversary, coming up on September, Escanes affirmed that she intends to change the menu, though she intends to keep the classics. Some of her most coveted classics, as she calls them, are the “Tacos Escanes” and the “Queso Artesanal al Horno”. The former is a serving of three tacos made with either regular or blue corn tortillas. There are three options to choose from: Tacos de Amigos, with grilled shrimp, beer, chorizo and melted cheese; Tacos de Carnitas, with shredded pork and melted cheese; and Tacos de Mamá, a vegan option as they are made with organic red lentils, potatoes and cold-pressed olive oil. For indecisive visitors, there is the option to order one of each. Meanwhile, the “Queso Artesanal al Horno” is a serving of local organic cheese from Camuy stuffed with garlic and baked with olive oil and oregano, served with toasted baguette slices. As for refreshments, Escanes intends to keep

the Margarita—made with her husband’s recipe— and La Reina, a bright and delicious cocktail made with Cuervo Tradicional Tequila or Mezcal Amarás with St. Germain, ancho chile, fresh lime juice, a homemade hibiscus flower reduction, and spiced up with a piece of habanero pepper for an extra kick. “I will leave the classics that everyone loves and then I will rotate nearly 90 percent of the dishes so that our regular customers don’t get bored and have different options, in addition to our specials. Because I’m telling you, I have clients that visit four or five times a week,” she said. In fact, Escanes explained that most of her clients are returning visitors, whom she has come to know and welcome personally. Throughout the interview, she paused to greet and send off what she referred to as the “regulars.” Part of the reason is because she wants to make sure that everyone who steps inside feels at home. “My food is essentially akin to going to my house; it is very homely food and everything is very fresh.... What better way is there than to have a restaurant that offers you food that feels as though you were eating at a friend’s house? Most restaurants are very structured in general. Sometimes the food is a little bit intimidating. But not me. I serve as if I was a friend, as your mom or your sister would serve you,” she affirmed. Guests can also take comfort in the beautiful décor, designed by José Javier Toro. For his work in Paulina Escanes – Gourmandize, Toro won an honorable mention from AIA Puerto Rico, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Neutral colors, abundant lighting, and large windows with

We are not about fine dining or anything of the sort... we are 100 percent homely food

La Reina, a bright and delicious cocktail made with Cuervo Tradicional Tequila or Mezcal Amarás with St. Germain, ancho chile, fresh lime juice, homemade hibiscus flower reduction, and spiced with a piece of habanero pepper for an extra kick.

a stunning view of the city complement the homely nature of both the owner and her food. “My dishes are not intimidating. We are not fine dining or anything of the sort... we are 100 percent homely food. When we bring you the plate, you realize that it’s very friendly,” Escanes affirmed. “There is a culture that sees chefs as superstars. I find it very amusing when people come here and ask to take a picture with me. I can’t even believe it!... and I think that is one of the reasons why people identify so much with the restaurant, because I come out to welcome them and I talk with them normally,” she added. As the meeting ended, Escanes went on to greet some of her regular visitors and to talk excitedly about the interview.

Neutral colors, abundant lighting, and large windows with a stunning view of the city complement the homely nature of both the owner and her food

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Embracing Hygge in Times of Stress The secrets of happy living, the Danish way

W Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournal.com

@RosarioWJournal

e are living in tumultuous times and Puerto Rico is no exception. To name a few: An economic depression that has lasted more than 12 years. Massive destruction in 2017 caused by a hurricane named Maria. The political and social upheaval of today, with the huge protests against Gov. Ricardo Rosselló due to the corruption and leaked chat scandals. Even with the governor’s resignation, effective Aug. 2, a lot of uncertainty remains about Puerto Rico’s present and future. No wonder many of us are feeling anxious, stressed and burned out. With this in mind, your correspondent turned to one of her favorite pastimes, reading… and rediscovered a real treasure, “The Little Book of Hygge,” by Meil Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. Hygge (usually pronounced hoo-gah) is how the Danes view the world. The term cannot be translated into one word, but is often described as feeling a quiet, cozy contentment. “It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world,” according to Wiking. My own interpretation of hygge is “relaxing and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.” In other words, slow down and relax.

Keep calm and read on. >Archive

Hygge first became popular in the U.S. media about three years ago, but I first learned of the term years ago, during my previous life, when I would spend a good chunk of the year in Sweden. Swedes have a similar but slightly different attitude to life, often described as “lagom,” meaning “just right.” Scandinavians are perhaps the polar opposites of Puerto Ricans, but hygge is culturally inclusive and works just as well in the tropics as in Northern Europe. The basic tenets are quite simple and include: Presence: Be here now. Enjoy the moment. That means turning off or at least muting your cellphones. Pleasure: Coffee and hygge go hand in hand. You deserve a treat. Add chocolate, cookies and cakes to this list.

Gratitude: Take it in. This might be as good as

it gets.

Harmony: Enjoy time with family and friends.

Be at peace.

Comfort: Get comfy. Take a break. It’s all about relaxation. Truce: No drama. Keep calm and carry on. Let’s discuss politics another day. Shelter: Your home is a haven, a place of peace and security. Living in the Island of Enchantment offers us many opportunities to live the hygge lifestyle. Go for a sunset walk on the beach. Connect with nature by going on a hike at El Yunque. Have a picnic. Read a good book in a cozy nook at home. Better yet, read at your favorite café hangout with a great “café con leche”. Enjoy outdoor living. Have a barbecue with friends. Cook with fresh, natural ingredients. Enjoy a candlelight dinner under the stars. Decorate your home with fresh flowers. Listen to soft classical music.

Stay On an Even Keel

“Live life today like there is no coffee tomorrow.” - The Little Book of Hygge >Gabriel López Albarrán

Silma Quiñones, president of the Puerto Rico Psychology Association, said balance is important in stressful times. She advises the general public to maintain their daily routines, such as going to work, taking children to school and making dinner at home. Take time to do something you enjoy, such as going for a walk or watching a movie. But people should also include the following in their lifestyles: healthy eating, sleeping and exercises habits. In other words, our physical health is as important for our mental health. “Take care of yourselves. This is a marathon. Change does not come in a day,” Quiñones said to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. “There will be good days and bad. Stay balanced and in control.”

TE AM W O RK

A BENEFICIO DE

Sábado

DE AGOSTO

COLISEO ROBERTO CLEMENTE

FORMA TU EQUIPO DE 20 PERSONAS PARA "JALAR" UNA GUAGUA ESCOLAR A UNA DISTANCIA DE 50 PIES EN EL MENOR TIEMPO POSIBLE

CREA TU EQUIPO CON TU EMPRESA O AMISTADES PARA APOYAR A LAS FAMILIAS CON CONDICIONES NEURO MUSCULARES

Información

Auspician

(787) 597-0824 / (787) 751-4088

Ldelgado@mdausa.org síguenos en

PUERTO RICO

< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, July 31, 2019

participa del mejor evento de

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Yoga Community Blossoms: A Metro Area Studio Guide courses are usually 10-15 students in size, as they pursue individualized training for each student. Manager Manuel Oría says that he has “seen how people who visit us from all around the world come back time and time again.” Ashtanga Yoga is located on McLeary street in Ocean Park and offers classes seven days a week.

Claudia Guerrero Negrón

newsroom@wjournal.com

@cguerreronegron

ncreasing in popularity by the minute, yoga has taken over Puerto Rico with an emergence of yoga studios all over the Metropolitan area. Decreasing stress, improving strength, relieving anxiety and promoting healthy eating habits are among the many benefits this practice brings, leading to an immense demand for more yoga parlors and studios everywhere. In 2012, The National Center for Health Statistics reported that yoga practice among adults was at 9.5 percent. By 2017, it had increased to 14.3 percent, and Puerto Rico has been no exception to the contagious wave of this relaxing new way of exercising. Here is your local guide to the best yoga studios in the San Juan area.

A teacher at Ashtanga Yoga helps a student with her posture.

ASHTANGA YOGa

Ashtanga Yoga can be the first to attest to the claim that yoga has grown in popularity in Puerto Rico, given the fact that the business originally had a smaller space, but had to expand due to an increase in clients. Ashtanga Yoga focuses on the Ashtanga and Rocket Vinyasa practices, which are just two variations of different sequences in standing poses, seating poses, twists and bends. Ashtanga Yoga also offers certification courses for those who aspire to be Yoga instructors, offering a 200-hour basic course, which can be taken in an intensive period of one month or for a period of three months on the weekends, and a more advanced 300-hour course. The

Class is in session at El Estudio: La Ciudadela in Santurce.

EL ESTUDIO: LA CIUDADELA El Estudio: La Ciudadela isn’t just a yoga studio, it is an entire healing center. The studio focuses on mind-body healing, offering workshops like Shakti Healing Workshops, that use breathing, meditation, journaling and group sharing techniques to activate and connect with your inner core self. Valerie Delgado, proprietress of the multidisciplinary shop, teaches Dharma, Ashtanga, Yoga Nidra, Vinyasa and Hip Flow, a hip and heart opening yoga class. She opened the space with her passion in mind:

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

by 2016, they had given 100,000 free yoga classes to the community. The spiritual center is big on helping people achieve their maximum health potential, which is why they have programs like Wellness @ Work, helping office groups and staffs come to together to create an environment of acceptance that enhances productivity. Lizelle is waiting until September, when Samadhi celebrates its 20th anniversary, to host the official grand opening of all the new features the studio will have.

“to heal, especially the Puerto Rican people. I have lived all around the world, but there is nothing like Puerto Rico. This is like a hub for healing for the community.” Aside from workshops and yoga classes, Delgado likes to put together events for the community like seminars on lactation, something she has immersed herself in as she has recently become the mother of a baby girl. El Estudio: La Ciudadela is also one of the few yoga studios that offers yoga classes for children, as well as certification courses to give kids yoga classes. Private, pre-natal yoga classes are also offered and on November 14-17 they will be offering a Vieques Retreat in Finca Victoria, a farmhouse style Bed and Breakfast where they will be giving a number of yoga, meditation, and sacred healing classes, with vegan/vegetarian food included. The studio offers classes every day of the week which can be booked by visiting yogailoveyou.com.

Basic yoga master Anna Rivera lowers her hands in prayer.

SAMADHi Mind Body Parlor studio.

MIND BODY PARLOr

Elizabeth Sola worked as an architect for many years before she decided to leave it all behind and focus on the discipline that healed her and brought peace to her life: yoga. As a lover of urban settings due to her architecture background, she decided to open Mind Body Parlor in the middle of Miramar, the building-filled community in Santurce that grows more and more each day with stores and restaurants opening on every corner. “The goal was to have people from the community walking to the studio. In class I see people from different parts of the community practicing together on the mat, everyone is equal.” The studio re-opened its doors six months after Hurricane María completely destroyed the space. Instructors with over ten years of experience offer classes in yoga and pilates, a similar discipline that goes hand in hand with yoga, according to Sola. You can reserve your pilates class by going online to mindbodyparlor. com and if you would like private classes you can call 787-428-6422.

Samadhi Yoga Institute could be considered one of the pioneers in the Puerto Rican yoga community, opening its doors 19 years ago. When Lizelle Arzuaga came back from California and India after completing her trainings in the Samadhi and Ayurveda methods, she realized there weren’t any yoga studios where she could continue with her practice so she opened her own. 19 years later, she is expanding and renovating the studio and adding components like a kitchen where healthy, vegan and vegetarian food workshops will take place as well as a space for a naturopath to offer services and a salon where hot yoga will be given. The center also offers workshops in aerial yoga and sound meditation, a practice used to discover internal body intelligence. You can find various different types of yoga at Samadhi; Basic, Gentle and Restorative yoga for relaxation, and Power Vinyasa and Kelari Vinyasa for a work out. The wellness center focuses on the Ayurveda teachings which date back 5,000 years and are based on the mind-body connection and on the principle that nothing has more power to heal and transform the body than the mind. Their “Semillas de Luz” program -Seeds of Light in English- is geared toward children, offering kids yoga classes as well as teacher training programs. They are one of the only yoga studios that requires their teachers to continue studying, some of them reaching the highest level which is a 500-hour certification program. Since their beginnings, they have offered everyone their first class for free and,

Licensed therapist Christine Gutiérrez gives a workshop on “Healing the Voice and Heart”.

CASA YOGA

Casa Yoga is another yoga studio that can attest to the continuous growth the yoga community has seen in recent years. Now opening their second location in Guaynabo, the studio will offer the same classes: Yoga Detox Flow, Bootybarre and Pilates Reformer Workout. Casa Yoga, meaning “yoga house”, is literally its name, a homey, welcoming place where there is no place for competitiveness. “That was always part of my vision board, to keep it accessible to everyone, which is why I think our beautiful community has grown so much,” said co-owner Wilmarie Delgado, who runs the shop along with her sister, Wendalys Delgado. After yoga helped Delgado overcome one of the hardest moments in her life, a divorce, she wanted to provide a space and the opportunity for others to enjoy the same benefits yoga provided her. The Delgado sisters are excited about opening the second location because they are bringing in a side that they are very passionate about: retail. The new outpost will have a shop with products that are organic, sustainable and natural, things that Delgado has noticed are in high demand but not readily available in most places. Different natural skincare lines will be introduced, as the sisters firmly believe that healing and taking good care of the skin is a vital habit that should go hand in hand with the healing of the mind and the body. Casa Yoga offers classes every day but Sunday and you can register online at momoyoga.com/ casayogapr.

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

A Project to Empower Small Farmers Domenico Celli visited Sandra Coffee Farms for his thesis project on sustainability three years ago, now, he is back on the island and dedicated to empowering rural producers

H Claudia Guerrero Negrón

newsroom@wjournal.com

@cguerreronegron

idden in Puerto Rico’s highest mountains lies resilience, strength, and perseverance. Sandra Coffee Farms, a Puerto Rican self-sufficient producer, has been growing and selling coffee since 2001 in the mountains of Adjuntas, a small, mountainous municipality in the Midwest of the central mountain range of the island. The ‘Cordillera Central’ is known for being the perfect environment in which to cultivate premium coffee, as the high-altitude, shady mountains provide the perfect temperatures that are needed to grow the coffee seeds. The farm was bought by Israel and Sandra González in 1994 after they traveled to places like the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Mexico in search of the perfect piece of land in which to develop their farm. After a couple of carjackings and various unfulfilling farm tours, the couple decided on Puerto Rico, Israel’s birthplace and where he lived until he was 18 years old. Coming from Enid, Oklahoma, Sandra’s Spanish surprises you when she adds the mannerisms and colloquial language that uniquely characterizes the Puerto Rican way of speaking. Sandra’s warm hospitality charms everyone who visits the farm on one of their tours, but it especially captivated Domenico Celli, a 23-yearold grad student with Puerto Rican parents from

Worchester, New York who started his undergrad thesis at Sandra Coffee Farms three years ago and never left. Celli was and is determined to find new ways to empower small farmers by implementing practices that will ensure sustainable growth and promote specialty agriculture, a practice he is certain will be the only way this industry moves forward, due to the inability to compete with cheap labor produced coffee that is imported from places like Mexico. Originally thinking he would pass this research on to someone who would do something with it, Celli never thought he would be a protagonist in the long journey of helping the agriculture in Puerto Rico become sustainable and independent. Among the many practices he has helped Puerto Rican >Courtesy The Collective Perspective farmers implement, like careful seed-picking and lowvarious cuppings, inviting local farmers to come temperature, longer coffee-growing periods, and taste different coffees processed in different he piloted a volunteer program called ‘Puentes ways, like the natural, wet and honey processes, to Naturales’ in which young volunteers came from compare notes and have a conversation on how all over the island and the world, from places like specialty coffee is processed in Puerto Rico. Germany and Spain, to help cultivate coffee in the “We had a conversation about how we process harvest season, which starts in September and coffee because in Puerto Rico, our processing lasts all the way through February. technology and the methods that we use are not When Hurricane María made landfall in 2017, up to date with the rest of the world in specialty it took a lot of things with it, including the coffee coffee so it was a good way to talk to farmers and trees at the very top of the mountains and the bring them in for an interactive activity,” said Celli. houses in which the Sandra Coffee Farms farmers Celli has made a point of personally getting to lived in, right there on the property, leaving Israel know many small farmers on the island to assess and Sandra with very few hands to produce their their needs, some from far in Adjuntas, like father gourmet coffee, chocolate and citrus products. and son duo Ian and Steve from Finca Vicenta, a This led Celli to start farm that also grows and produces high-quality brainstorming on a coffee. Celli soon learned how the duo was way to bring in helpers continuously rejected when claiming the relief to pick coffee during funds they were promised by the FSA, (Farm the harvest season, Service Agency) and other local agencies. offering volunteers a As part of the community ties Celli wanted to place to stay and food, build among farmers, Sandra Coffee Farms bought while also providing ripe coffee cherries daily from Finca Vicenta for the coffee education 2018 harvesting season and offered a price twice events and guided the commercial standard, processing, packaging nature adventures. and marketing this coffee separately from the one The program was a grown there on their own farm. huge success and it helped bring back some of production that Hurricane Maria took away. Celli also organized

Sandra Coffee Farms processing center. >Claudia Guerrero Negrón

29 < The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Be on trend... be on trend...

www.elvocero.com/revistas/zona

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Festival of Inner Peace in San Juan Dance, sing and listen to the sounds of peace with acclaimed artists performing meditative music for pure relaxation. Creative expression is therapeutic, so heal while you are entertained with the purest of energies. You can register at Eventbrite.com. When: Tuesday, August 6, 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Where: 299 De Diego Ave., San Juan

Bacardi Sigue Tu Ritmo Powered by RadioRed @ Pública, the summer celebration will be a party featuring the hottest up and coming artists. You won’t want to miss it, especially with all the delicious Bacardí cocktails available! When: Friday, August 2, 7:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. Where: Pública, 1057 Juan Ponce de León Ave., San Juan

Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango Enjoy a performance by world-class musician Luis Bravo with a special guest performance by Latin Grammy-winning artist La India. This dance show is full of sexy dancing and intense expression, you won’t want to miss it. Tickets can be purchased online at tcpr.com. When: Saturday, August 3, 2019 Where: Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré, 22 Ponce de León Ave., San Juan

/ Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Patron Saint Festival Enjoy colorful displays of art, music, culture, dance and food. When: July 31- August 4 Where: Area Recreativa Lisandro Lugo, San Germán

The first San Pedrito Festival The San Pedrito is a unique, small bird found in Puerto Rico. It is considered as endemic of Puerto Rican culture as the coquí. This festival will feature live music, family activities, a photography exhibition, seminars and more. When: August 3- August 4 Where: El Campo es Leña, St. Rd. 521, km 8.1, Adjuntas

Heineken Summer Oasis Series

De Fiesta Con Los Artesanos

This is the last stop of the Heineken Summer Oasis Series in San Juan. Live music by FUBOT, Dazzi, Three Two Roots and Rauw Alejandro. Dance the night away at a beautiful beachfront resort!

July is the month of the artisan, and the Cultural Arts Cooperative of Puerto Rico is hosting a celebration with live music. Drop by and check out the wonderful talent this island has to offer.

When: Saturday, August 3, 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Where: La Concha Resort, 1077 Ashford Ave., San Juan

When: Wednesday, July 31, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Where: Plaza Colón, Mayagüez

13th Guayama Artisan Fair Come with your family and enjoy beautiful work by local artists at the Feria Artesanal Guayamesa. When: August 3 – August 4, 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. Where: Plaza de Recreo Cristobal Colón, Guayama

Van Halen Tribute It’s Van Halen’s 40th anniversary and there’s only one way to celebrate: rocking out to all of the classics! “You Really Got Me”, “Love Walks In”, “Jump”, “Unchained”, and more will be played at W Tacos, Burgers, Wings, Sports and Rock Cantina! The event is hosted by Banda Magallanes, a classic rock cover band. You can RSVP on Facebook. When: Friday, August 2, 11 p.m. – 2 a.m. Where: W Tacos, Burgers, Wings, Sports & Rock Cantina, 400 Fernando Montilla St., San Juan

1st Level Pro Makeup Classes Come learn all the techniques you need to know in order to create makeup looks like a pro. Whether you want to learn for personal benefit or to do makeup on a professional level, this class will help you learn the best makeup tricks. Certified makeup instructor Ednaliz Cosme and her team of professionals will guide you along the way. No previous experience is required. When: Monday, August 5, 6 p.m. Where: Carolina Bowling Center, Carolina

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