The Weekly Journal - September 25, 2019

Wednesday, September 25- October 1, 2019 - // no.022

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

Astounding Increase in Independent Rentals P14 Lower Tax at Restaurants to Begin in October P7

“The Sky’s the Limit”

In terms of job numbers, there has been an increase of 36.4 percent in the last four years

I

Rosario Fajardo

>Courtesy Puma

“ Selena Gomez: More Than Just a Beauty P20

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

f you build it, they will come.”

With apologies to the movie “Field of Dreams,” it seems that this famous phrase also applies to Puerto Rico.

When Lufthansa Technik officially opened its doors in Puerto Rico in 2015, the company launched a new industry on the island: airplane maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).

In the space of just a few years, Puerto Rico’s

aerospace industry has steadily grown, with Lufthansa Technik among those leading the way. When the company’s MRO facilities were inaugurated in July 2015, about 140 people were initially recruited to serve two airline clients: Spirit and JetBlue.

Staff numbers were quickly ramped up to 200 and to date, Lufthansa Technik has 400 staff members to serve eight customers: Allegiant, Apollo Aviation (now Carlyle Aviation Partners) Avianca, LatAm, Sky Chile and Viva Colombia.

Lufthansa Technik has just won its ninth GO TO PAGE 4

>Courtesy Lufthansa Technik

The Aerospace Industry in Puerto Rico:

Temporary Funding Staves Off Medicaid Crisis P18

The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, September 25, 2019 >

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a week in review Puerto Rico to Host U.S. Cultural Convention on October 2020

>Courtesy

>Archive

The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) announced that the latter’s annual assembly, which gathers arts and cultural agencies from mainland U.S. and its jurisdictions, will be held for the first time in Puerto Rico on Oct. 19-23, 2020.

The assembly is an annual convention that defines public policy on topics at state level and strengthens the vision of cultural accessibility in all communities in order to close the social gaps on cultural participation.

Some of the main goals are to support rural communities, promote health and healing, accelerate economic development, boost educational success, promote inclusion and equity, achieve low-income communities, create opportunities for artists and serve the public.

CAPA Americas Aviation & LCCs 2020 Summit to be Held in Puerto Rico

CAPA – Centre for Aviation announced the return of the CAPA Americas Aviation and LCCs Summit set to convene for its 6th edition in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 7-8, 2020.

The summit will tap into the latest developments, challenges and strategic issues that the aviation industry is facing in the Americas.

The LCC Summit sessions will assess the current state of the competitive landscape of low-cost airlines, how to improve profitability, unlock sustainable growth prospects in key markets and airline infrastructure reform, among others.

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

U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Appointment of Next U.S. District Attorney for Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow, who was nominated by President Trump to be the next U.S. District Attorney for Puerto Rico, has received the support of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and of Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón. The nomination now goes to the Senate and, if approved, Muldrow, a current assistant U.S. attorney in the Middle District of Florida, would take the place of Rosa Emilia Rodríguez, who is retiring in December.

President Salvador Hasbún shasbun@elvocero.com

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

Managing Editor Yennifer Álvarez yalvarez@wjournalpr.com

Comptroller Félix A. Rosa frosa@elvocero.com

Traffic Director Ilia M. Pérez Centeno iperez@elvocero.com

Multi-Platform Digital Director Stephanie Gómez Álvarez sgomez@elvocero.com

Production Director Eligio Dekony edekony@elvocero.com

Editorial Director Juan Miguel Muñiz Guzmán jmuniz@elvocero.com

Multi-Platform Graphic Director Héctor L. Vázquez hvazquez@elvocero.com

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 customer, but the details have not been released yet.

The German company’s growth in Puerto Rico mirrors that of the industry as a whole.

In 2015, for example, there were about 18 aerospace-related companies with operations in Puerto Rico, generating about 5,170 jobs islandwide, totaling $130 million in annual salaries, according to the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (Pridco).

As of 2018, the number of these companies had grown to 34, generating about 7,050 jobs islandwide, totaling $296.35 million in yearly salaries, Pridco reported.

In terms of job numbers, there has been an increase of 36.4 percent in the last four years.

Some of the aerospace companies with facilities in Puerto Rico—many of them concentrated in the northwest region of the island—include Honeywell Aerospace, Collins Aerospace, Pratt and Whitney, Lufthansa Technik, Lockheed Martin, DXC Technologies, El-COM Systems, OPTI Manufacturing, Global Tek Manufacturing, CNC 2000, Multi-Axis Manufacturing and Jet Aviation San Juan FBO, among others.

The aerospace ecosystem is also complemented by a number of educational, scientific and research institutions such as the Arecibo Observatory; the University of Puerto Rico’s (UPR) Nanotechnology Laboratory; Inter American University’s Aviation School; the Aeronautical and Aerospace Institute of Puerto Rico (a subsidiary of the UPR’s Aguadilla Campus); and various related programs at the Polytechnic University, Sistema Ana G. Méndez and Caribbean University.

UPR Mayagüez’s engineering program also offers a pipeline of trained professionals to many companies in the aerospace-related industry.

In the first seven months of 2019, the Business Development Office at the Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its Spanish acronym) also completed 12 negotiations with businesses comprising of telecommunications, information technology and aerospace firms.

While specific details have not been released, these 12 companies will make an investment of more than $37.8 million and plan to create an additional 2,368 jobs in the sector, according to DDEC estimates.

According to a report

by Banco Popular, the aeronautics industry has a solid base in Puerto Rico. “This discipline, which is part of the knowledge economy, includes the design, maintenance and manufacture of mechanical appliances used in aircrafts.

On the island, most of the aeronautic industry activity is focused on providing services rather than Reinaldo de Jesùs, a team leader at Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico, works on a Spirmanufacturing, and it Airline Airbus A320. (Courtesy)

/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

is limited to global markets, not Puerto Rico’s local market. As a result, the economic activity generated by the aeronautics industry is one of exporting services,” according to the bank’s July 2016 Economic Progress report.

“Exports have the potential to improve Puerto In 2015, there Rico’s fiscal were about 18 and economic aerospace-related crisis, since companies with they respond operations in Puerto to external Rico, generating demand. In about 5,170 jobs relation to islandwide, totaling export services, $130 million in annual Puerto Rico is salaries. competitive.

As of 2018, the The aeronautics number of these industry does companies had grown not require to 34, generating intensive use about 7,050 jobs of electrical islandwide, totaling power, which is $296.35 million in very expensive yearly salaries. in Puerto Rico, In terms of job and does not numbers, there has require using been an increase of United States’ 36.4 percent in the boats and crews last four years. for transporting Source: The Puerto Rico merchandise, Industrial Development as occurs in Company (Pridco) manufacturing,” Banco Popular said.

“Aeronautics export services depend on a specialized workforce that is highly knowledgeable. In addition, it requires a quality communications infrastructure and the compliance with federal regulations which provide security in defense matters; all of which Puerto Rico already has and in which it competes favorably,” the report added.

In fact...

A Success Story

“There’s a great team here. We are a successful operation. We would not be winning these customers if we weren’t good,” said Patrick Foley, CEO of Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico.

A transplanted Irishman, Foley has been working with Lufthansa Technik in Puerto Rico since 2014 and now proudly calls the island “home.” Foley is a long-time employee of Lufthansa Technik, having started in April 1982. He completed an apprenticeship as an aircraft mechanic at Shannon Aerospace in Ireland and then started working at Lufthansa Technik Shannon, where he quickly moved up in the ranks. He later studied business administration at the University of Limerick, graduating with a first-class honors degree.

“We have great facilities, a great process and a great team. We are 20 percent faster than our competition,” he said to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, noting that the average turnaround time is a week.

Foley explained that the company’s airline customers have a strong presence in North and

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Anagladiedys García, an aircraft mechanic at Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico (Courtesy)

South America, as well as the Caribbean, pointing “We’re very proud that 95 percent of our staff to pointing to the strengths and attractions of are local. We helped create something that did not Lufthansa Technik’s location and capabilities in exist before. We brought an industry to the island Puerto Rico. that did not exist before,” Foley said.

The MRO facility, based at Rafael Hernández Of the 300 or so airline mechanics on staff, the International Airport in Aguadilla, serves the Airbus median age is 31 to 32 years old and 15 are female.

A320 family of narrow-body airliners. In Sept.

Initially, there was no pool of aircraft 2018, the service was expanded to include mechanics on the island, so Lufthansa the A320 NEOs, the first in Lufthansa Technik trained the initial staff in Technik to do so. its European facilities, in places “The demand with A320s is so such as Hungary and Ireland. great, that with Spirit, JetBlue, This issue pointed to the Allegiant and LatAm, we are importance of establishing operating at full capacity,” Foley a pipeline of highly trained said. To date, the company and competent staff that has redelivered more than are also trained locally.

400 aircrafts from its Aguadilla Hence, the company facilities. soon formed collaborative In fact, when THE WEEKLY agreements with the likes of JOURNAL toured such organizations as the Aguadilla the UPR’s Aeronautical facilities, all five bays & Aerospace Institute were occupied by of Puerto Rico. The airplanes and your Institute now has a correspondent could federally approved see at least two apprenticeship program airplanes outside in aviation mechanics. waiting their turn.

Lufthansa Technik Among the work being hopes to continue conducted included attracting other -Patrick Foley, CEO of painting the aircraft, aerospace-related Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico as well as various companies to Puerto inspections in the Rico, Foley said. “The interior and to the Aguadilla airport is structures. perfect for MROs. Seven teams focus on specific tasks such as the Passenger numbers are increasing. This is also the engines, cabin and interiors, cargo area, avionics, longest runway in the Caribbean and so airplanes landing gear and structure. can land and immediately go to our facilities.”

There’s a great team here. We are a successful operation.

We would not be winning these customers if we weren’t good.

An aircraft painting company would be an attractive complement to Lufthansa’s operations, he pointed out. “The Aguadilla airport is a real asset. We could have 10 more companies here.”

Puerto Rico’s Advantages

“The reasons why Lufthansa Technik came to Puerto Rico in 2014 are still true and valid today.

Natural disasters happen all over the world but this seems to be getting more challenging,” Foley said, alluding to Hurricane Maria’s devastation in 2017.

Nevertheless, the company remains strongly committed to Puerto Rico, he emphasized.

“First, Puerto Rico, and specifically the Aguadilla airport, is the perfect location for an MRO facility.

We have customers from North America and Latin America. Second, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory.

We are providing U.S. jobs and that is certainly an asset. Getting FAA approval would also have been more complicated out of the U.S. “Third, culturally, Puerto Ricans are Latinos, so there is an important connection with their Chilean and Argentinian customers. Fourth, the availability of hard-working, well-trained and bilingual staff,” Foley said. The latter is very important as the lingua franca at the Aguadilla facility is English.

“I am optimistic about the future. Puerto Rico’s strengths, the location, a U.S. jurisdiction, the trained people. With the right leadership and planning, the industry will continue to grow,” he said. “There isn’t a magic bullet. It’s step by step.

“Hurricane Maria came on a Wednesday. On Friday, we had 100 people here, ready to help and do what they could to get us up and running. On Monday, we were working again,” Foley said proudly.

In a nutshell, that explains the corporate culture and “can do” attitude at Lufthansa Technik.

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Agreement Between Port of San Juan Terminal Operators Under Scrutiny

Gov. Wanda Vázquez and other sectors want to know if the agreement could affect service for consumers

G Yennifer Álvarez Jaimes

yalvarez@wjournalpr.com

@yalvarezjaimes

ov. Wanda Vázquez wrote a letter to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to ensure that the agreement between terminal operators Luis Ayala Colón and Puerto Rico Terminals does not affect competitiveness, reduce transportation services or increase their costs in the Port of San Juan.

Although the governor has already requested an investigation by the Puerto Rico Justice Department, she was also looking into the details of the agreement that the Chamber of Food Marketing, Industry & Distribution (MIDA by its Spanish acronym) and the United Retailers Association (CUD by its Spanish acronym) believe could affect competition, resulting in poorer, costlier service for consumers.

The FMC allowed the collaborative agreement between the adjacent Port of San Juan terminals to go into effect Aug. 30. However, the commission noted concern about the agreement’s impact on the market, saying it would monitor it closely.

Before Gov. Vázquez’s letter, the FMC did not reach a consensus on the threshold question of whether the agreement comes within the Shipping Act jurisdiction, Commissioner Michael Khouri said in a press release, adding that “a majority could not determine that we have enough information and evidence at this time to go to Federal Court to seek an injunction to prevent this agreement from going into effect.”

“We understand what the parties are trying to achieve, but serious concerns remain about the implementation of the agreement. The Commission will take necessary measures to ensure that the agreement is not implemented in a manner that violates the Shipping Act.”

At the time of press, the FMC had not issued additional comments.

According to MIDA and CUD, the merge between Luis Ayala Colón and Puerto Rico Terminals, as Puerto Nuevo Terminals (PNT), would manage about 80 percent of the containers and 11 of the 14 cranes in the Port of San Juan, with the remaining 20 percent of the containers and three cranes managed by Florida-based Crowley Maritime Corp.

Hernán F. Ayala, spokesperson for Luis Ayala Colón, clarified that the joint venture between Puerto Rico Terminal and Luis Ayala Colón is not a merger, but an agreement to reduce prices and

better services.

He mentioned that the agreement limits the work of the new company to unloading and loading ships, dispatching and receiving cargo. “They have nothing to do with the routes and services of the shipping companies or the transport they offer. Neither company is a ship operator, these companies are terminal customers.

Services to these companies are provided under contracts negotiated individually with each one.

The business of this joint venture will continue as before, since the terminals do not intervene in this matter. It is transparent for consumers, carriers and truck drivers,” Ayala said.

Gov. Wanda Vázquez said if the resulting Puerto Nuevo Terminals venture is detrimental, she would “make the corresponding determinations in the best interests of Puerto Rico.” >Archive

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The 11.5 percent sales tax on prepared food will drop to 7 percent on Oct. 2019. >Archive

Decreased Sales Tax on Prepared Foods Begins in October

A certificate must be placed on a visible place near the establishment’s entrance so consumers are informed of the restaurant’s tax rate.

O Yennifer Álvarez Jaimes

yalvarez@wjournalpr.com

@yalvarezjaimes

n Oct. 1, the sales and use tax (IVU by its Spanish acronym) for prepared foods will be reduced from 11.5 percent to 7 percent, as determined in Act 257 of 2018, signed by former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló on the new tax model.

The reduction will be implemented at eligible restaurants with an Authorized Business Certificate issued by the Puerto Rico Treasury Department.

Businesses wishing to obtain this certificate should be up to date in their tax filings, including IVU filings, and not have outstanding tax debt or be registered in a tax debt payment plan. The Authorized Business Certificate, which states that the business charges only 7 percent, must be placed on a visible place in the establishment.

Although the Treasury Department has a list of about 22,000 restaurants on the island, the Puerto Rico Restaurant Association (ASORE by its Spanish acronym) says that according to Labor Department

statistics on companies that pay unemployment, recognize that this reduction will be beneficial for in Puerto Rico there are about 4,000 open consumers and the industry. We urge the owners restaurants and those will be the ones eligible to of food establishments to be observant of the charge the new decreased percentage tax, as long Treasury guidelines so that they can implement as they obtain their certificate before the beginning this change effectively at their points of sale,” of October.

ASORE’s president José Salvatella, added. president of ASORE, Puerto Rico Treasury said that the disparity Secretary Francisco in the number of Parés Alicea said restaurants is due to notifications have been the fact that Treasury sent to businesses that Department records prepare food, as these list many restaurants need to comply with that have gone out of certain requirements in business and others order to be able to offer who operate within their products at the another business, reduced IVU rate. such as small For businesses to restaurants inside gas receive the Authorized stations.

Business “If you do not want Certificate, they must to pay 11.5 percent also be registered do not sponsor that under the North - José Salvatella, president of the restaurant, there American Classification will be a visible System (NAICS), Puerto Rico Restaurant certificate stating according to Parés.

Association (ASORE) whether or not that Parés added that restaurant charges businesses must also the 7 percent. If you have a duly connected enter a restaurant that is not subject to the newer IVU terminal at each of the establishment’s point tax rate, you are required to pay 11.5 percent,” of sale systems.

Salvatella explained.

For more information or guidance, log on to the “We have always believed in the complete Treasury Department’s website at www.hacienda. elimination of the tax on prepared foods, and we pr.gov or call (787) 622-0123, option 8.

If you do not want to pay 11.5 percent do not sponsor that restaurant, there will be a visible certificate stating whether or not that restaurant charges the 7 percent. If you enter a restaurant that is not subject to the newer tax rate, you are required to pay 11.5 percent

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Small businesses celebrate Achievements Two Years After Hurricane Maria 89 percent of 200 small businesses helped by Foundation for Puerto Rico in recovery efforts after the hurricane remain open, contrary to FEMA estimates of 40-60 percent of businesses closing after a major natural disaster

A Claudia Guerrero Negrón

newsroom@wjournalpr.com

@cguerreronegron

s the island of Puerto Rico hits the second-year anniversary mark of Hurricane Maria’s passing, some are saddened by the reminder and others celebrate. What is there to celebrate? The many initiatives taken by numerous non-lucrative organizations that made milestones of progress in recovery and economic development all over the island.

Foundation for Puerto Rico is one of these organizations, celebrating the fact that 89 percent of the businesses that participated in their recovery program are still open today, despite FEMA estimates that say that 40-60 percent of businesses close within a year of a disaster.

Immediately after the hurricane’s passing, just 30 days after, the organization created the Small Business Support Program, which provided immediate relief for businesses to remain open.

Through the Small Business Cash Grant Program, they gave small businesses $5,000 after they established that businesses weren’t receiving immediate assistance after the hurricane.

The program had two conditions: the first, the money granted had to be delivered to clusters of businesses, meaning areas cluttered with many businesses next to each other in order to create a “ripple effect” of concentrated help. The second was that as a requirement, in order to receive the money, the businesses had to complete four hours of mentoring.

Foundation for Puerto Rico granted a total of $504,000 to 200 small businesses in 11 different municipalities.

>Courtesy Foundation For Puerto Rico

In a collaboration with Centro para Emprendedores and the Puerto Rico TechnoEconomic Corridor (PRTECH), they implemented the program in 11 different municipalities. A total of $504,000 have been released to 200 small businesses. Of those 200 businesses, a year after the hurricane, FPR found that 93 percent remained open. Two years after the hurricane, 89 percent have remained open.

One of FPR’s pillars is the idea of the visitor’s economy, the idea that there is economic development opportunity in preparing a municipality in a tourist destination, not only for international visitors, but local ones as well.

“We identified business clusters that were crucial for communities in that particular topic of the visitor’s economy, and that approach also gave us the tools to develop Bottom Up Destination Recovery Initiative where we understood that when the help arrives in a concentrated form to one community in a crucial area, the possibilities of that help having a ripple effect in adjacent communities is greater and the recuperation process is faster,” said Alma Frontera, director of Alliances and Strategic Projects.

Part of this program’s protocol is for a group of

ten individuals to move to a municipality for six months to work closely with community members to then spend six more months developing a Plan of Destination, intended to work with municipalities to better prepare their visitor economies. This means working with their social capital to better prepare the services offered.

“Part of our concern was that outside of those first few months of help was we needed to start thinking of how we were going to move in to the rebuilding stage because we were realizing that in September the new hurricane season would begin again. We worked with infrastructure and basic necessities, like clean water, renewable energy, telecommunications and businesses,” said Frontera.

By creating a Community Destination Economic Development Plan, FPR helps communities strengthen their infrastructure and expand their touristic offerings, betting on longer lengths of stay as a means for economic generation meanwhile creating new jobs and growing a tax base.

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< EThe Weekly Journal > Wednesday, September 25, 2019

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Puerto Rico’s Highest-Paid Jobs Top salaries focused on natural sciences and business administration

W Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

ith thousands of Puerto Rican students on their way to take the College Board in order to determine their university prospects, and with an even greater number of students in higher learning institutions who are undecided about their career path, many might feel overwhelmed at the pressure of achieving stability in an island that has been in an economic recession since 2006.

Millennials have higher career expectations

than their predecessors in terms of personal fulfillment, and a 2018 survey by Ernst & Young revealed that only 15 percent of GenZers (born between 1996 and 2010) would choose financial security over job satisfaction.

However, Puerto Rico’s fiscal reality and labor conditions might pose a challenge to people who want to thrive in certain industries that have become over-saturated. As such, those who have ambitious financial goals might want to consider exploring their options in some of the island’s most successful fields—in monetary terms.

Per THE WEEKLY JOURNAL’s request, the Puerto Rico Department of Labor & Human Resources shared its 2018 report of the top paying occupations in the island, compiled by the department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor.

According to the official document, chief executives are the topmost earners, collecting an average of $59.57 per hour. However, this was the most vaguely defined occupation,

given that it doesn’t provide insight as to which industries reap the greatest financial compensation.

Industrial production managers fall not too far behind, earning $53.05 per hour on average. This occupation typically requires a college degree in business administration or industrial engineering, with larger companies looking for managers with a master of business administration (MBA) or a postgraduate degree in industrial management.

Other related disciplines include material science and biochemistry.

Architecture and engineering managers hold the third spot with an average hourly salary of $48.55. Apart from studying architecture or engineering, a management position generally requires years of experience and fieldwork. An architecture and engineering manager oversees the development of new plans and products, coordinates activities, designs administrative procedures and budgets and supervises employees.

Meanwhile, compensation and benefits managers earn an hourly $45.20 on average.

These individuals typically need a bachelor’s degree in a field pertaining to business administration, such as business management, finance or human resources. This position entails developing a company’s pay system for its employees thorough research of trends and competitive markets for employee benefits.

Air traffic controllers take the middle spot, earning an average $44.60 per hour. These employees monitor aircraft and ensure safety, while others regulate flights or direct aircraft when active. This job requires an aviation degree at a university through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative Program.

Sales managers trail shortly behind with an average hourly salary of $43.97. This position merits at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, statistics and/or mathematics.

They oversee sales representatives, set sales goals for employees and the company as a whole, analyze data and develop training programs for employees.

Moreover, judges, magistrates and magistrate judges earn $43.36 an hour on average. Magistrates have less power and authority than judges and hear small-scale cases, such as petty crimes and traffic offenses; whereas judges tend to oversee more complex legal cases. A magistrate judge, on the other hand, is a judge appointed to assist district court judges. A law degree is an obvious requirement, but students from all fields can apply to law school after obtaining their higher learning degree.

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Occupations with the Highest Salaries, 2018 Chief Executives

$59.57

Industrial Production Managers

$53.05

Architecture and Engineering Managers

$48.55

Compensation and Benefits Managers

$45.20

Air Traffic Controllers

$44.60

Managers

$43.97

Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates

$43.36

Internists, General Practitioners

$42.43

Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators and Hearing Officers

$42.32

Pharmacists

$42.232 $0.00

$10.00

$20.00

$30.00

$40.00

$50.00

$60.00

$70.00

Average Salary Per Hour Source: Occupational Employment Statistics

Internal medicine physicians and general practitioners are close behind with an average hourly wage of $42.43. Internists are specialized in adult physiology, while general practitioners are trained to provide primary healthcare to patients of all ages and sexes. Both require a medical degree and a residency program after obtaining a bachelor’s degree, most commonly in biology and chemistry.

Administrative law judges, adjudicators and hearing officers earn a collective average of $42.32 per hour. An administrative law judge or hearing officer rules over

administrative hearings and has the power to render legal determinations; they must have several years of experience in litigation or administrative law as a licensed attorney.

Similarly, an adjudicator presides over a formal dispute.

In the tenth position, pharmacists earn an average of $42.23 an hour. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that there is a budding need for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, largely due to a growing number of senior citizens. Likewise, Puerto Rico’s increasingly aging population entails that there is a growing number of people who need

more medications and additional healthcare.

Students who are interested in pursuing this career should apply to a natural sciences department and take courses on microbiology, molecular and cellular biology, human anatomy and physiology, general and organic chemistry, statistics and others to then work toward achieving a doctorate in pharmacy (Pharm.D.).

For more information about Puerto Rico’s labor environment, visit www.trabajo.pr.gov.

Students are also encouraged to discuss their prospects with counselors from their own schools or university of choice.

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UPR and UVI Reach “Historic” Agreement to Research Resilience and Sustainability Aim to improve both jurisdictions’ capacity to withstand weather events and to foster economic development

T Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

he University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) reached a collaborative agreement aimed at conducting investigations pertaining to strengthening resilience and sustainability in the event of a hurricane or other atmospheric event.

The measure, supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), was designed to tackle the challenges that Caribbean islands face due to their geographically instilled proneness to devastating weather phenomena.

UVI President David Hall stated that the university has multiple open investigations on the improvement of infrastructure and “many” other assets of economic development. “We truly believe that partnering with the UPR, which is doing this type of work and has been doing so many other positive things, will make us move faster,” he said.

As part of the agreement, both university systems will collaborate on developing investigation proposals, projects for economic development, and transfer knowledge in areas of mutual interest that will bolster both academic institutions.

Linda Cruz-Carnall, the EDA’s director for the region, traveled to Puerto Rico to witness the pact and stressed the importance of this agreement.

The official asserted that her agency is optimistic that the universities can achieve significant results and high added value for the economies of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

Meanwhile, Juan Bauzá, a spokesperson for the EDA, explained that the agency has a center in the UPR Mayagüez campus but it is lacking a

physical establishment in the USVI. “When we started to take advantage of that in the recovery efforts, we realized that this was an opportunity to transfer technology and collaboration between the universities and that this could open the door to biotechnology, medical equipment and many other areas for economic growth in the future,” he said.

2017 was a historic year for both U.S. jurisdictions.

Hurricanes Irma and Center: UVI President David Hall and UPR President Jorge Haddock. Both academics Maria drastically affirmed that the alliance will lead to scientific research that will result in significant benefits to the Caribbean region. >Courtesy UPR impacted Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, including or affect the provision of essential services such as its aqueduct, energy and telecommunications water and electricity. systems. Maria in particular propelled international As such, Jorge Haddock, the president of the media attention due to the islandwide devastation UPR, affirmed that this “historic alliance” will foster in terms of public and mental health, safety, new opportunities for economic development in and economic stability, with the latter already the region through the creation of academic and at a precipice due to a recession that has firmly investigative projects in regards to renewable hindered the island’s development for more than a energy, innovation, and the development of decade. resilient technology that can respond to the needs In addition to these challenges, the death toll of these Caribbean islands. of this category 4 storm rounds up at roughly “[This alliance] will bring unique and 3,000 people, both during its landfall and in the multidisciplinary experiences to our students and aftermath due to lack of essential services, making professors, who will participate along with the it one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history.

UVI’s academic community in several projects that Moreover, the recovery process in the USVI will also allow us to find solutions to the difficulties from both of these hurricanes has been patchy that weather events create in the region. We and residents fear that they are not equipped to strive to be an example to the rest of the world,” withstand the impact of another storm.

Haddock said.

Tropical Depression Karen has already The UPR president added that the institutions generated a plethora of memes and comedic will continue exploring opportunities for student comments from residents in mainland U.S. but and staff exchanges. has sparked what can best be described as a “Our priorities continue to be to increase collective trauma among the survivors of the 2017 our student population, improve their hurricanes. Although Karen is estimated to have academic experience, increase external funds minimal impact due to its relatively slow gusts to further investigation developments, obtain of winds, both U.S. jurisdictions fear that even a scholarship funding and to improve infrastructure,” low-scale weather event could hinder its recovery Haddock stated.

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Haz tu Orden llamando al (787) 751-4088 o por Email a puertorico@mdausa.org

< EThe Weekly Journal > Wednesday, September 25, 2019

¡Ordena HOY!

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Revenues from ‘Independent Rentals’ Grew by 1,468 Percent in Four Years Tourism a key sector for gov’t revenues and job creation

I

Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

t is no secret that the tourism industry has rebounded strongly after the onslaught of Hurricane Maria in Sept.

2017.

One key area has been the astounding increase in “independent rentals,” which has mushroomed in recent years.

From January to April of 2019, the Puerto Rico government collected $373.6 million in room occupancy taxes, a 16.2 percent increase from the same time period in 2018, when this figure was $321.6 million, according to Discover Puerto Rico’s newly released Annual Report.

An estimated 77 percent ($285.8 million) of the $373.6 million comprised hotel rooms and 23 percent ($87.8 million) comprised “independent rentals” like those with Airbnb.

There has been a clear increase with independent rentals in the past four years. In 2015 (Jan. to April), just $5.6 million was collected in room occupancy taxes in this area, representing only 2 percent of the total $342.8 million.

Based on these figures, the increase in independent rentals in the past four years has skyrocketed by a whopping 1,468 percent.

During a recent conference on tourism held

by Discover Puerto Rico, Carla Campos, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, stressed that the so-called “visitor economy” is one of the most important employment indicators on the island.

As Puerto Rico’s tourism comeback continues in force, a key sector is the “leisure and hospitality” industry, which already provides an estimated 78,800 jobs islandwide, as of July 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In July 2018, about 10 months after Hurricane Maria struck the island, there were 75,200 jobs in this area.

The year-over-year percentage change shows an increase of 4.8 percent in leisure and hospitality jobs in Puerto Rico.

For his part, Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Manuel Laboy said increasing Puerto Rico’s labor-force participation rate is imperative if the systemic growth that the island needs will ever be achieved.

“When this administration began [in 2017], Puerto Rico’s labor force participation rate was at 39 percent and today it is around 42 percent. Right

impact for the whole island; 3) synergy among all now, there are about 1 million total jobs in Puerto sectors, such as agriculture, medical tourism and Rico,” he said during a recent forum on tourism hospitality, among others; and held by Discover Puerto Rico, the 4) a solid infrastructure. “We island’s destination marketing have had many challenges, but organization. there are also many reasons to “We need to be close to 60 be optimistic and one of those percent,” he added, which would is what Discover Puerto Rico is put the island on par with the Economic achieving,” he stated.

U.S., with a 63 percent labor Development Campos also highlighted force participation rate, and and Commerce the importance of “product even the neighboring Dominican Secretary Manuel development” and supplying Republic, which has a similar rate Laboy said the demand for passengers, of 64 percent. increasing Puerto stressing the fact that 2018 However, to achieve the Rico’s labor-force broke records in cruise arrivals goal of a 60 percent labor participation rate and 2019 is set to become force participation rate, the from the current island would need to create a historic year for cruises 42 percent is using San Juan as the home an additional 500,000 jobs, imperative if the port. “While quality tourism according to his calculations. systemic growth offerings are important,” so are “Unless we add those jobs, that the island other issues like security, local Puerto Rico will never achieve needs will ever be true systemic growth,” he added. transportation offerings and the achieved.

For Laboy, there are four state of the island’s beaches and areas that are extremely coastal areas, she indicated. important to achieve a greater To that end, the Tourism boost to the tourist economy in Company is working with the Puerto Rico. These are: 1) economic and tourism public and private sector to improve efforts in industry diversification; 2) economic growth these areas.

In fact...

Tourism is enjoying a banner year in Puerto Rico, with many visitors staying at “independent rentals” such as apartments in historic Old San Juan. >Archive

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Steven Paganelli, TripAdvisor’s head of Destination Marketing, Americas >Gabriel López Albarrán

TripAdvisor Traveler Trends:

Craving Flexibility and Online Deals Increasing use of mobile devices and apps Rosario Fajardo

T

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

he behaviors and habits of today’s travelers are evolving just as quickly as technology, according to Steven Paganelli, TripAdvisor’s head of Destination Marketing, Americas.

With the ever-increasing number of travel and tourism-related websites now available for consumers, it is important for Puerto Rico and its travel industry partners to stand out above the fray, he said.

For example, with so many choices around, “research stretches across many weeks, websites and sessions. Typically, from the first search to booking takes about 80 days, beginning with booking a flight or rental car,” he said during a recent tourism conference held by Discover Puerto Rico.

Desktop computers still dominate this phase of the travel process, as consumers can more easily access websites and compare various offerings.

More than 50 percent of travel bookings are still done on desktops, Paganelli said.

TripAdvisor analyzed the various trends in the travel industry based on two years of data from 16 studies around the world, including its own surveys.

“Travelers today suffer from a paradox of choice, contacts, he noted. “They want to share photos an analysis paralysis. They want special deals, of what they are doing, eating, shopping… They best-price guarantees and extras to differentiate want to share their reviews, which hopefully will be your product from others.” Paganelli said. Loyalty positive.” programs, such as those with airlines and hotels, This is especially true of those in Generation Z, remain important, he typically defined as indicated. people born from With that in mind, the mid-1990s to the travelers today also early 2000s, who are want flexibility, as plans constantly on their do change. He advised smartphones, he added. those in the industry to “As a travel destination, “remove the obstacles you want people to to selling” by providing spread the word about clear rules on return you. Offering free policies, such as free Wi-Fi access is very cancellations and 24important.”

-Steven Paganelli, hour waiting periods.

More and more Even after initial plans travelers also want TripAdvisor’s head of Destination have been made, experiences over Marketing, Americas many people return products or things, to “double check,” so as going on a zipline offering flexibility helps adventure or hiking provide peace of mind for travelers. to a hidden waterfall create vivid memories and a However, when travelers are already at their sense of accomplishment that people want to share. destinations, there is a clear change to using their “About 74 percent say they prioritize experiences smartphones, downloaded with various apps, to when traveling. They want something different, off decide where to go for entertainment, eat out and get the beaten path. They ask for tips from the concierge, directions through real-time maps. “It’s important to taxi driver, local people,” Paganelli said. adapt your message to the medium,” Paganelli said.

Mobile devices are also important as travelers today want to share their experiences on social media, as a kind of “bragging rights” with their

Travelers today suffer from a paradox of choice, an analysis paralysis. They want special deals, best-price guarantees and extras to differentiate your product from others.

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Southern Submarine Cable System Aims to Reinforce the Island’s Telecommunications Industry Blackburn Networks designs a network that could withstand different types of weather events

I

Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

n light of Puerto Rico’s proneness to hurricanes and other atmospheric phenomena because of its geographic position, Blackburn Networks has designed a submarine fiber-optic cable system that will reinforce existing similar networks to support the

telecommunications industry.

Two years have passed since the devastating Hurricane Maria exposed Puerto Rico’s fragile energy structure and the urgent need of a backup system to ensure that the telecommunications industry—which was recognized as an essential service in 2018— remains in operations. THE WEEKLY JOURNAL previously reported that telecommunications companies have nearly tripled their resources to be able to recover faster and more efficiently in the event of another large-scale weather event, with some opting for underground fiber-optic cables for good measure.

Presently, there is a submarine cable system north of the main island, but Blackburn Networks is looking to implement its Boriken Submarine Cable System (BSCS) in the southern

region as an extra precaution and to provide stability to the northern systems if it were to suffer a failure.

North of Puerto Rico lies the Milwaukee Deep, the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean. This point is located in the Puerto Rico Trench and it can generate earthquakes and destructive tsunamis, such as the 1918 San Fermín earthquake.

Although more than one century has passed since then, the island’s geographical reality guarantees that another similar occurrence could happen sometime in the future.

Charles Chimaras, the technical director of this project, explained that the BSCS would, therefore, provide “redundancy” to all the systems in the north because “there is no other way” to ensure resiliency in the telecommunications industry if these were

The Boriken Submarine Cable System seeks to reinforce pre-existing submarine fiber-optic cable installments in order to endure telecommunications services in the wake of a hurricane.

/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

17

totaled.

“We had the idea of developing a submarine cable system in the south in order to be able to provide a redundant exit to all those companies that own submarine cables... It is an option to be prepared for any event,” Chimaras said.

He stated that this project must be built as a category five construction. That is, a system that “will allow me to have the tranquility that if a category five hurricane or similar weather event were to occur, I would be able to withstand it... This allows me to assure my client that the connectivity will be up and running in the event of a catastrophe.”

The project is expected to provide availability of 99.9995 percent at the domestic and international levels. This will be ensured through the type of cable selected, the number of pairs installed and the optical equipment that will be used in the terminals of these submarine cables.

Given that this system is designed solely for telecommunications and not as an energy service, its potential clients include common local and international carriers, internet service providers, content service providers and traditional telecommunications operators.

In addition, the BSCS would not only reinforce the northern structure with a robust optical transmission, but would also serve as a high capacity international traffic gateway to the Dominican Republic and St. Croix.

Blackburn Networks decided to install this system in the municipalities of Ponce and Aguadilla after reviewing its desktop study, which is part of the first phase of the program.

Therein, Chimara’s team decided that the network will be divided initially into three segments. The first segment will connect St. Croix and Ponce; the second will extend from Ponce to Aguadilla, and the third segment will 2017 Hurricane Maria revealed that Puerto Rico’s telecommunications industry was not equipped to withstand connect Aguadilla to the Dominican Republic.

There is also the possibility of installing a fourth a large-scale atmospheric event. While multiple precautions have been installed, the BSCS aims to provide even greater stability. >File photo segment between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Chimaras estimated that the entire process— the restored traffic to the major submarine cable The next step in the first phase of the program including acquiring stations that serve as alternative gateways to the is to release a second the corresponding restoration traffic. desktop study that permits and the “In the design, I tried to avoid submarine would indicate where green light from the repetition. Submarine repetition refers to a piece to implement the Department of Natural of equipment that I place at the bottom of the submarine cables and Environmental ocean when the distance extends more than 400 in the Dominican Resources—should be kilometers between point A and point B because Republic. “With that completed within 18 electronics and [fiber-optics] require it,” Chimaras information, I can months, or early 2021. said. reach out to fiber“We are working to He explained that with this design, the BSCS optic cable suppliers obtain the permits as can have a variety of cables with multiple pairs of so they can compete,” soon as possible,” he fiber-optic cables that could also allow the option Chimaras said. said. to resell some of these pairs.

After this process, Among the THE WEEKLY JOURNAL asked if Blackburn the project will services that would had an estimate of how many jobs this project -Charles Chimara, technical director of begin phase two, in be made available would create. Although he couldn’t offer a the Boriken Submarine Cable System which Blackburn will between Puerto precise number, Chimaras observed that the issue a request for Rico, the Dominican implementation process—as in, installing the proposal (RFP) so that Republic and St. Croix system below seawater and underground companies may compete for the opportunity to are high capacity wavelengths, mild capacity on land—requires outsourced handiwork. install the equipment. This process is expected optical transport units, low capacity ethernet, Once the BSCS is fully implemented, the cable to begin by Nov. 2019 and the decision should be international restoration services through a management operation will run 24 hours a announced in Jan. 2020. By the end of the second meshed domestic network, dark and dimmed day and this will require around three to five phase, the entire system should be installed. fiber, and local loops in these islands to forward employees.

We had the idea of developing a submarine cable system in the south in order to be able to provide a redundant exit to all those companies that own submarine cables.

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

U.S. House Passes Bill That Temporarily Staves Off Medical Funding Cliff for Puerto Rico

Now up to U.S. Senate to approve measure before Sept.

30 deadline Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

W

@RosarioWJournal

ith the Medicaid fundingcliff deadline quickly approaching for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), the U.S. House easily passed a bill on Sept. 19 that would temporarily delay the looming crisis for the two territories.

The measure is now before the U.S. Senate, which is expected to vote on the initiative before the Sept. 30 deadline.

The measure passed the U.S. House by a vote of 301 to 103, according to Politico.

The bill provides temporary funding for the federal government until just before Thanksgiving. U.S. lawmakers must then reach another accord, either another temporary funding patch until Christmas or The Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., home of the U.S. Congress (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) for the entire fiscal year, Politico reported.

The House version of the bill provides a chronic underfunding of the program, according to company Assured Guaranty. temporary extension of Federal Medicaid “The Section 1108 federal dollar cap is reset local government officials.

Assistance Percentage (FMAP) every year, with a $359.2 million cap in Fiscal Year An estimated 1.6 million benefits to Puerto Rico, the USVI 2018 [for the island], which covers only about 13 Puerto Rico residents are and other “insular territories” percent of Puerto Rico’s Medicaid costs,” Assured Medicaid beneficiaries and, ahead of the Sept. 30 expiration Guaranty said. without the additional federal of those benefits.

Gov. Wanda Vázquez said she was optimistic funds, the island’s Medicaid If passed and signed into An estimated that the temporary stopgap measure would soon funding shortfall for fiscal year law, the Continuing Resolution 1.6 million Puerto be approved.

“The efforts that we made in the 2020 is estimated at over $1 will extend the temporary 100 Rico residents Federal Capital, along with the Secretary of Health, billion—hence, the Medicaid are Medicaid percent FMAP to Puerto Rico Rafael Rodríguez, other agency heads and Resident funding cliff. beneficiaries and USVI to Nov. 21, giving the Commissioner Jenniffer González, have paid off, A report by the Government and without the U.S. Congress an additional eight given that during our [recent visit to Washington, Accountability Office concluded additional federal weeks to work on a long-term funds, the island’s D.C.,] we were able to restore communications that the federal share for FMAP solution.

Medicaid funding and trust of the [federal] government.

I hope that in the U.S. territories would be Unlike in the states, where shortfall for this resolution will be approved in due time,” the 83 percent if the formula was FMAP is not capped and the fiscal year 2020 is governor said. calculated in the same way that federal share varies based on the estimated at over $1 The stopgap measure also provides time for it is for the 50 states. If the FMAP per capita income of residents billion—hence, the Puerto Rico to continue its lobbying efforts to rates for the U.S. territories were of that state, federal funding Medicaid funding gain parity in FMAP funds. “This will allow time to calculated based on per capita for Medicaid in the territories is cliff. continue our efforts to get a four-year assignment income in the same way, each subject to a statutory cap and a for the Medicaid program for Puerto Rico, for the of the territories would have an fixed federal matching rate. As a benefit of thousands of Puerto Ricans,” the Health FMAP rate in the 70 percent to result, the FMAP to Puerto Rico chief said.

80 percent range, according to data from insurance and the USVI is capped at 55 percent, resulting in a

In fact...

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

By Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz

By Teresita Fuentes, CPA

Architect & Vice Chairman Board of Directors of Invest Puerto Rico

T

Two Years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is Poised for a New Beginning

he second anniversary of Hurricane Maria is a good time to evaluate the rebuilding of Puerto Rico, what still needs to be accomplished and how the recent political crisis has affected these efforts.

Federal Funding The short-term and mid-term federal funding that is scheduled to come to Puerto Rico from HUD, FEMA and other sources should help jump start currently stalled reconstruction efforts and encourage private investment in the island. According to federal data, Congress has allocated approximately $42.7 billion for recovery assistance following Maria, with close to $35 billion of that amount still scheduled to be disbursed.

The construction industry in Puerto Rico was hit especially hard by the recession and it has so far failed to recover. For example, around 12,000 new housing units were built on the island in 2007, versus just less than a thousand the last year. However, with the amount of federal funding designated for the island, and the strong need to continue rebuilding following Maria, the construction industry in Puerto Rico is poised to improve substantially over the near and long term.

New Government While the recent political crisis in Puerto Rico had an adverse short-term effect on the local economy, particularly for the tourism and construction industry, the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló and subsequent constitutional appointment of Governor Wanda Vázquez has allowed people to refocus and move forward.

In addition, Governor Vázquez’s decision not to run for reelection in 2020 will allow her

to concentrate on what needs to be done, to fight the perception of public corruption, improve the economy and continue rebuilding the island.

Tax Incentives Act 20, also known as the Export Services Act, promotes the exportation of services from Puerto Rico by only charging qualifying companies a 4 percent tax. This has made it a more competitive place for companies to do business, as well as helped local companies be more successful elsewhere. In fact, my firm, Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón, was the first architecture and interior design services company to utilize this law, leading us to open a second office in Miami in 2015.

Opportunity Zones Furthermore, the recent opportunity zone legislation offers a huge advantage for Puerto Rico.

This vehicle was developed to encourage long-term investments in low-income communities throughout the U.S., and promote economic development in distressed areas.

However, what sets Puerto Rico apart is the fact that more than 95 percent of the island qualifies as an opportunity zone, in contrast with a 25 percent cap in all 50 states.

The many benefits of opportunity zones adds to Puerto Rico’s existing value proposition, which includes stability under U.S. laws, attractive tax incentives, a prime geographic location and an educated, skilled work force.

All of this sets the stage for successful and serious investors to develop projects throughout the island, mostly focusing on mixed-use developments, energy revitalization, housing construction and general infrastructure. This will benefit both the long-term investor, the local population and help launch Puerto Rico’s economy into a bright new era of sustained economic development.

Former Treasury Secretary

What’s for Dinner?

T

oo many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth— and boy are there a ton of cooks in our kitchens.

The cooks in suits in our legislature all seem to walk into the kitchen at the same time with different ingredients and some of them don’t just taste bad, they’re outright poison.

Recently, our legislature decided they were literally going to walk into the island’s kitchens. The idea, which seemed to be a noble one, was to provide relief to taxpayers who consume prepared foods outside their homes. The dual benefit of the reduction was aimed at reducing costs for consumers but also providing some relief and economic development to an already ailing industry: restaurants. The restaurant industry is a very challenging one; from low margins to high costs of operations, restaurants provide a service that we all use and never stop to truly appreciate.

Restaurant owners are champions who create jobs, raise the value of the neighborhoods where they establish their businesses and, as we saw in Maria, are the first to put their resources forward to assist our communities.

All of these virtues of the restaurant industry were ignored by former Secretary Juan Zaragoza, who said the industry was invaluable, but also decided to go out and target restaurant owners who had debts with the Treasury Department. The result was counterintuitive; businesses were closed, jobs eliminated and tax debts were not paid; with negligible collection results.

Currently however, and after much debate, the legislature created a sales tax reduction, formulated to give restaurants an incentive to attract more customers and pay their tax debt. Consumers were also prized with a reduced restaurant bill and tax relief due to the sales tax reduction. A great idea.

As part of the Puerto Rico tax reform of 2018, a reduction in the sales tax of 4.5 percent on the sales made by restaurants in Puerto Rico that are duly qualified to apply the reduced sales tax on its sales.

Therefore, effective Oct. 1, 2019, diners will see a 4.5 percent reduction in their sales tax from 11.5 percent to 7 percent sales tax, as

long as you sponsor a qualifying restaurant.

The tax reduction will only apply on the sales considered prepared food and non alcoholic beverages in restaurants, which are strictly defined as commercial establishments that sell prepared food made to be consumed in the establishment or carried out as long as its served with utensils.

In order for a restaurant to be eligible for the lower rate, it must be registered in the merchant registry of the Puerto Rico Treasury Department with the appropriate NAIC code for the restaurant industry. The key requirement is that the restaurant must have all of their sales tax filings up to date, absolutely no tax debts, or a valid payment plan for any debt at all. In addition, the merchant must have sophisticated point of sales systems that meet government requirements regardless of the fact that restaurants with sales under $125,000 used to be able to work without these point of sale systems, which are now a requirement.

In addition, these point of sale terminals must be connected and transmitting data to the P.R. Treasury Department.

This means that the little guy now has to invest in sophisticated equipment to tell Hacienda all they sell. Not much economic stimulus for this group.

Restaurants who automatically comply with these requirements will be able to download a certificate from SURI that will allow them to charge 7 percent rather than 11.5 percent. This certificate must be placed in a visible area within the establishment.

The certificate will only be valid through Sept. 2020 and every year it will be renewed automatically.

So, starting in October we must choose what restaurants we will go to, and some will choose based on a 4.5 percent sales tax cut. I, for one, can say that I care more for the quality of what I’m eating than the tax rate I’m paying at a restaurant. I will eat whatever I want, wherever I want and will support local merchants. The burden should be on the government to enforce the law, not the other way around.

Maybe this is the root of Puerto Rico’s problem. The government looks to make its role easier, but it only keeps adding layers of bureaucracy at the expense of the working class.

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Real Life of

Selena Gomez

Far from the life of a Disney princess, Selena Gomez grew up facing all kinds of vicissitudes: discrimination, bullying, health problems and everything on superlative scales. However, she wants her generation to understand what really matters

T Martín Casullo

>Photos Courtesy UNICEF and Social Networks

mcasullo@yahoo.com.ar

@mcasullo

he actress and singer of Mexican descent belongs to a new generation; one which gives tens of millions of people access to her life almost daily. Most times because she opens the door to her private life, but others because the paparazzi spy on her privacy as if they were looking through a window.

In Puerto Rico they have a special place for the

27 year-old Texan because when she visited the Island in 2011 she began a campaign to protect abandoned dogs- she has been a spokesperson for Island Dog - and even became the adoptive mother of two “satos portorricensis” from the street to recover them.

Seeing Selena worry about others is common and Unicef rewarded her quality as a human being by naming her an ambassador, the youngest in their history.

Thanks to charisma and talent she has transformed her name into an empire. She owns the Instagram account with the third most followers: 152 million! Although that is like a gold mine, Selena does not hesitate to put some reality into the virtual world: “I used to use Instagram a lot, but it has become something really harmful for young people, and me too.

Spending so much time looking at the comments and letting them ‘influence you’ is unhealthy,” she said. “It was affecting me. It made me feel depressed and bad about myself. I saw my body differently.”

“I have the application [Instagram] on another person’s cell phone - he’s an assistant - and when I have something important to share with my fans or I just want to have fun, then I use it. It’s a useful platform, but it scares me when you see that boys and girls don’t know what’s happening in the real world,” she said. “It is selfish. That is, to describe it as selfish is rude, but it is dangerous,” she said.

A pizza, horror movies and Rihanna fan, in 2013 she had to suspend a tour because she began to feel bad. She was diagnosed with Lupus - a chronic disease which affects and attacks healthy cells and tissues - but underestimated what was happening to her: “Perhaps I was not necessarily good at recognizing what it really meant, so it reached a point in that it was a matter of life or death, “ she acknowledged.

In 2017 she had a kidney transplant. The donor was one of her best friends, France Raisa, and they shared one of the most moving images of social networks. At the bottom of the photo, Selena who does not have community manager - wrote: “I am very aware that some of my fans realized that I was away part of the summer and were wondering why I was not promoting my new music. I found that I needed to have a kidney transplant and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my health. I honestly wanted to share it with you as soon as my journey through this ended. I want to thank my family and the amazing team of doctors

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

for everything they did for me before and after surgery. And finally, there are no words to describe what my friend France Raisa did. She sacrificed herself and gave me a priceless gift by donating her kidney. I am very blessed. “ Today the relationship between the two is not going through its best moment but, out of respect for everything they lived together, they keep it as the greatest of secrets.

After the operation, she was on vacation in Sydney with friends and pictures of her in a swimsuit went viral after people posted body shaming comments.

Selena’s reaction did -Selena Gomez not take long; instead of being distressed, she decided to share a video of her vacation and write a message where she defined beauty: “The myth of beauty, the obsession with physical perfection that traps modern women in an endless circle of insecurity, despair and hatred towards herself while trying to adapt to the unrealistic definition that this society has of beauty. I choose to take care of myself because I want to, not to prove anything to anyone.

Give wings to fly,” Gómez wrote on her Instagram.

Last January, Selena moved temporarily to New York. Soon after, it was revealed that the singer had traveled so she could participate in a two-week program for depression and anxiety, part of her life that she talks about more and more frequently. “I have had many problems with depression and anxiety, and I have talked a lot about it, but it is not something I feel I will overcome.

I think it is a battle that I am going to have to face the rest of my life, and that seems fine to me because I know that I am choosing myself above everything else.

I want to make sure I’m healthy. If that’s okay, everything else will fall in place. I don’t want to set goals because I don’t want to be disappointed if I don’t meet them.“ Selena Marie Gomez does not hesitate to commit herself to the causes she believes in and does not care if her enemy is President Donald Trump. The singer did not hesitate to send a strong message against the deportation process of immigrant families in the United States accompanied by a photo. Selena

The myth of beauty, the obsession with physical perfection that traps modern women in an endless circle of insecurity, despair and hatred toward herself while trying to adapt to the unrealistic definition that this society has of beauty.

I choose to take care of myself because I want to, not to prove anything to anyone.

added the hashtags #CloseTheCamps and #FamilesBelongTogether to her post.

In a world so in need of examples for the youngest, Selena is a young woman who illuminates the right path. #Thanks Selena.

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Vendimia Celebrating Seven Years of Excellence A Mediterranean menu with a Caribbean twist

2

Claudia Guerrero Negrón

newsroom@wjournalpr.com

019 marked

@cguerreronegron

Vendimia’s seventh anniversary, celebrating seven years of culinary greatness, excellent service and a welcoming atmosphere that makes guests feel right at home. The extensive menu is innovative with a varied offering of quality meats, fresh seafood, poultry, pastas, appetizers, desserts and children’s picks.

The plates feature a heavy European influence, with various pasta and risotto options like the Caribbean lobster risotto, which has transpired as a crowd favorite, and the pesto cassava gnocchi.

All pastas and bread are prepared fresh in house every day.

For seafood, classics like ceviche, escargot, and grilled octopus can be found on the

Vendimia’s Manchego Cheese Custard is drizzled with olive oil on top, Guzman’s twist on a classic Spanish recipe. >Photos by Gabriel Lopez Albarrán

The dish is a staple on the menu. menu; as well as more creative dishes like prawns A more creative plate is the duck confit, with cooked in an oven with a fruit sauce and truffle oil; and a seafood fusion Mediterranean style dish with an orange and ginger sauce drizzled over top. The menu is meant to be experimentative, according olive oil, smoked peppers and white Sauvignon. to Vendimia owner, One of the more Wilson Guzmán, who popular appetizers created the menu is the crab-stuffed with over 20 years piquillo peppers in a of experience in the smoked pepper sauce restaurant industry. that resemble small “The food is pretty volcanoes erupting traditional and with flavor. Order Mediterranean in the the dish for taste and European sense, like aesthetic.

Italian and French, but Their kurobuta pork -Wilson Guzmán, Vendimia Owner with a more creative, osso buco is to die Caribbean twist,” said for, as it is roasted in the proprietor. He honey and rosemary and served on top of a bed of Portobello and gave the Caribbean lobster risotto as the perfect smoked pancetta risotto. The meat gently glides on example. The extensive menu has over 40 different to the fork as it quickly disappears from the plate. items to choose from.

Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, Guzmán acquired all he needed to know to open his own space.

“I started out cleaning dishes at a restaurant called El Zipperle and then

We have families that have been visiting us since the beginning.

We have seen children grow up.

They feel like they are at home.

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

I was the general manager at El Hipopótamo. I reached a point where I couldn’t grow anymore and that was the time I knew I had to create something myself.”

For Guzmán, Vendimia is in a category of its own when it comes to service. When you enter the space you are immediately greeted with excellent service.

“We offer a personalized service that is like no other. We have families that have been visiting us since the beginning. We have seen children grow up. They feel like they are at home,” said Guzmán, who is also the owner of Azabache, a newer, more modern concept situated in Santurce.

The restaurant sits on a corner of the street, giving a panoramic view to guests who sit near the bar area with large windows wrapping all the way around the structure. The light that shines through the windows illuminates the white clothed tables that fill the interiors, giving a peaceful and relaxed ambiance.

The culture of the restaurant is to create experiences. As you wait for your delicious food and cocktails to arrive to the table, the staff treats you like family.

Their dessert is just as sweet, with a must-try Manchego cheese flan, with olive oil drizzled on top to pair with any of the options on their extensive wine list menu.

Coconut custard, crème brulee, chocolate mousse and tiramisu are the classics that can all be found on the dessert menu. A more creative choice is the pears in red wine sauce

dessert, a typical Spanish dessert where pears are tossed in a red wine reduction and cooked to perfection.

Their fully stocked bar includes an extensive collection of whiskeys, all the way from Japan to Nova Scotia.

Among the famous house cocktails is the Felipe: sour aged rum mixed with bmb liquor. Their house made sangria is made fresh with local fruit and juices as well as their flavored mojitos: coconut, passionfruit and anise. They have happy hour every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Vendimia, meaning the time where the grape is harvested, perfectly captures the restaurant’s essence.

The products are brought in fresh and prepared to perfection, all while providing an unforgettable experience. Whether you are with friends, family, or on a business meeting, Vendimia is the perfect place to treat yourself and escape the ordinary.

Guzmán is currently developing what will be Vendimia’s brunch menu, which will be offered only on Sundays. Guzmán has plans to offer brunch in the coming month, serving the classics like eggs Benedicts and pancakes, but also putting his creative spin on it, serving plates elaborated with cochinillo.

Vendimia is open on Mondays from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

It is located on 1350 F.D. Roosevelt Ave., San Juan.

Vendimia has an extensive offering of fresh seafoods and delicious meats.

Wilson Guzmán, owner of Vendimia, opened its doors seven years ago with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant business.

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

When Behavior and Personality Are Out Of Sync

By Alberto J. Núñez González

O

Certified Birkman Professional

ftentimes, the terms personality and behavior are used interchangeably. This is expected since our personality comprises aspects and qualities of one’s attributes; behavior is the way we usually act and conduct ourselves.

Our behavior gives us hints about our personality.

Here comes the tricky part. Frequently, usual behavior represents our “productive” way, yet it is not always synchronized with our personality needs.

Our usual behavior is out there for everyone to see. We have become comfortable with it. It works for us. We can get by and have satisfactory outcomes. We can be talkative and social because our jobs requires us to be that way.

As professionals we will comply with our job obligations and tasks. Don’t get me wrong. This behavior is effective and represents a pattern of behavior that works for us. If the environment is

>Archive

working in our favor, we will be fine.

Hidden underneath our usual behavior are our needs. Needs represent our social expectations of how others (and ourselves) should be treated.

This may be summed up as our comfort zone; our preferred environment when the world is working according to our expectations.

But what happens when our surroundings do not align with our everyday productive behavior?

Here comes stress. Stress behavior specifically.

Stress behavior is how we may act when our needs -- invisible to others and sometimes neglected by ourselves -- are not met.

For example: A person may be very communicative and seem in control of every social interaction, but what the person really expects is to have a purposeful task at hand and go ahead and complete it. He or she doesn’t want to spend time in meetings listening to everyone’s opinion.

Because expectations and the environment are not aligned, the person might become argumentative and inflexible. On the other hand, someone may seem introverted but have an underlying need to communicate and interact with others. Think of an accountant or a lawyer who graduated with honors

and knows his trade perfectly, completes projects on time and bills the expected hours. This person has a need for social interaction, but is confined to a closed off, isolated office space. This situation may trigger stress behavior resulting in unproductive actions that will take place. The person may become easily distracted and sidetracked.

There are many combinations of behaviors or outcomes that can arise when our needs are not met and our personality becomes an obstacle instead of an asset. Personal and professional development specialists recommended to work on our self and other awareness by means of a validated personality and behavior assessment tool, such as the Birkman Method that gives insight into our behavior and personality. Simply classifying each one of us into a personality quadrant is not the solution. We need to identify and maximize our uniqueness factors. We must find our best and perfect selves.

Usually only available to big corporations globally, the Birkman Method is now available in Puerto Rico through Certified Birkman Professional, Alberto J. Nunez Gonzalez. For more information: anunez@albertonunez.com.

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www.elvocero.com/revistas/mirame

< EThe Weekly Journal > Wednesday, September 25, 2019

It's your moment to shine.

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Presents his Jean Cintrón bold new Spring/Summer 2020 Collection With just 24 years of age, he is a force in Puerto Rico’s fashion design industry

D Claudia Guerrero Negrón

newsroom@wjournalpr.com

@cguerreronegron

rawing inspiration from the everyday Puerto Rican woman he sees around him, Jean Cintrón launched his most daring collection yet, including male and unisex pieces, a first for the young fashion designer superstar.

The 24-year-old artist said he stepped out of the box for this one, playing with bright colors like fuscia, neon green and orange to create a

collection inspired by the 80s, which is a fashion trend that has made its way back to the forefront of the fashion industry. The designer creates his pieces inspired by what he sees but also by buying extraordinary textiles, elegant fabrics and quality materials that characterize his work.

Cintrón is proud to be one of the first Puerto Rican designers that is breaking the mold and making clothing that is inclusive and representing communities that have been excluded in previous years in the industry.

“I’ve been wanting to do it for a while. I love dressing myself, so I said: ‘I should do something for me as well!’ I think that now all the artists in the urban music scene are changing the way people think in regards to how to dress. Everyone is dressing different, you see Bad Bunny and J Balvin and their clothes are super different and you see people on the street imitating them. I think we should take advantage of this movement because it is unisex, meaning either gender can wear it,”

said Cintrón.

Cintrón always knew he had a passion for the arts. Before fashion design, his love for photography occupied most of his time. Until one day, for his 18 birthday a friend gave him a sewing machine with which he started playing around and making clothes for his friends. What started out as a hobby led Jean to quickly discover his talent to create bold but classic pieces and soon generated a list of clients that requested his designs for proms, birthdays and events.

The designer said he usually centers his designs on what the Puerto Rican woman likes to wear, what she feels comfortable wearing. He characterizes his style by sleek cuts, bold patterns, perfect fit silhouettes and the perfect balance between daring and classic. He is attentive to the trends that come and go on the island; but rather than jump on the wave, he leads the industry with his own brand, trailblazing every step of the way.

At just 21 years-old, Jean had his first fashion

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

It is the first time Cintron designs for males, creating unisex pieces available for both men and women. >Photos Courtesy Jean Cintron

show be sponsored by Maybelline, a major accomplishment for a young designer seeing as professionals in the industry wait years for major breakthroughs like that one. In 2017’s San Juan Moda event, a fashion show to showcase Puerto Rican designers’ latest collections, Cintrón made his debut as the new fashion industry sensation.

“That was my first runway, and the main sponsor of the event wanted to choose me for their runway and it was a bit more pressure because I was expecting an actual audience, I had never done a show before. It was crazy, it was so packed. It was a Wednesday so I didn’t even know if people would show up but it was a total success.

I really wanted to change the space and put my label on it because I wanted to be different from everybody else, and I did that,” said the designer.

The designer has already collaborated with big names in the music industry like Kany García and Raquel Sofía and dressed 2006 Miss Universe Puerto Rico Zuleyka Rivera and 1993 Miss Universe Puerto Rico Dayanara Torres. Cintrón said he would like for his next collaboration to be with a male, seeing as he is now expanding into that market, listing Bad Bunny as a dream collaboration.

For the collection he just launched, Spring/ Summer 2020, presented this past Sept. 13 in Fundación Sila M. Calderón, the young artist collaborated with Lexus Puerto Rico to present his work, where he said he had one of the most surreal moments in his career.

“When I was backstage preparing for the show and I saw the amount of people that were working to produce a show that was entirely mine, I couldn’t believe it. There were around 120 people working to build and produce my show, it was surreal,” said Cintrón.

The artist also presented his work in the Dominican Republic back in March, working with friend and influencer Helen Blandido and Lexus Dominican Republic to debut his 80s inspired collection.

Among his many other accomplishments, Cintrón recognizes a collaboration with CocaCola as one of his most proud moments, where he is the first Puerto Rican artist to be selected by the brand to create a design for the cans. In a launching of a limited-edition line of Diet Coke flavors, Cintrón designed four different elegant dresses to go with each flavor; zesty blood orange, feisty cherry, twisted mango, ginger lime, and a beautiful flower bouquet to go with the original flavor.

The Cayey native fashion designer describes bridal as being his one of his favorite things to work on because of how personal the connection with the client is.

“It is such a special day for them, and to be a part of that is a huge honor. I form a strong bond with them because it is a whole process that takes months,” said Cintrón.

The designer is currently finishing his degree in graphic design in the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico and he hopes continue working with great brands at least every year for a major collection.

The designer stepped out of the box working with bolder and brighter colors in an 80’s inspired collection.

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Bill to Ban Sunscreen that is Harmful to Coral Reefs Gains Support

USVI, Hawaii and Key West have passed similar measures

P Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

uerto Rico may soon join the ranks of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Hawaii, Key West, Florida and the Pacific island nation of Palau in banning sunscreen products with chemicals that are deemed harmful to coral reefs and other marine life.

All of these islands are popular tourist spots but, in recent years, concerns have been raised about the impact of pollution and “overtourism” in various ecosystems, such as beaches and coastal areas, where coral, tropical fish, manatees and sea turtles live.

Each year, about 14,000 tons of sunscreen end up in coral reefs around the world, according to a study by the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Experts indicate that there are two components that are present in most sunscreen products: oxybenzone and octinoxate. Both chemicals act by filtering the sun’s rays thus preventing the skin from absorbing them.

“Now, the accumulation of these chemicals in corals contributes to the bleaching of these, since it kills the algae that grow inside them, changing their color and eliminating nutrients that sustain other marine lives” reads House Bill 1997. “They also affect or retard their growth, so that marine flora is severely damaged.”

The legislative intention, according to the bill’s reefs. These soft and hard corals are affected author, Rep. Joel Franqui, is to prohibit the sale by variations in temperature degrees and in our and use of any sunscreen that contains both Caribbean environment, high water temperatures substances, oxybenzone and octinoxate. However, cause bleaching and eventual coral death,” he said. those of “natural formulation” or containing “Add to this the effects on the corals located just titanium oxide or zinc oxide will be allowed.

20 feet from the shore of the beaches of Isla Verde, In House hearings on the matter, the measure where direct contact with these chemicals covers has received widespread support from the Puerto the polyps of the corals, annihilating the first line Rico government and local of natural defense that we count environmentalists. They all on to protect ourselves from the called for the need to protect wave energy that is eroding our the island’s natural resources, coasts. Not only do they protect including coastal areas and us, but coral reefs also represent marine life. a tourist attraction promoting Each year, Laura Díaz, legal advisor for the local economy,” López said. about 14,000 the Natural and Environmental He pointed out that the tons of sunscreen Resources Department, said it importance of coral reefs, end up in coral reefs around the is important for Puerto Rico, as specifically in the San Juan metro world, according an island in the Caribbean, to area, is of such magnitude that to a study by align itself with the worldwide if this barrier does not exist, the the Archives of movement to protect coral reefs. strong energy of the waves—the Environmental She suggested reviewing effect of global warming—would Contamination and increasing the penalties affect the area’s beaches and and Toxicology. mentioned in the legislation crash against the coast, causing so that they are dissuasive erosion. for businessowners. The bill In fact, this phenomenon establishes fines that start at $50 has already been happening for the first violation, $100 for the second and $200 for some years. As previously reported by THE on subsequent occasions.

WEEKLY JOURNAL, the beach around Ocean Park In the USVI, the fines for violating the sunscreen has experienced such severe erosion that several ban are much higher, starting at $1,000 for the first hundred feet of beachfront has been lost in the violation. past year alone.

Francisco López Mújica, of Arrecifes Pro Ciudad, Other groups that expressed support for the also supported the measure. “Corals are the most initiative include 7 Quillas Grupo Tortuguero and delicate and sensitive animals that make up the Organización Pro Ambiente Saludable.

In fact...

>Carlos Rivera Giusti

/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Aguadilla A Spot Worth Exploring

in Northwest Puerto Rico

The municipality is a pictureperfect oceanfront retreat

A Yennifer Álvarez Jaimes

yalvarez@wjournalpr.com

@yalvarezjaimes

guadilla is more than beautiful beaches. Although in-theknow water sports enthusiasts have been making their way to Aguadilla for decades, the municipality has a variety of engaging attractions beyond the

water.

The Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN), the second-largest airport in Puerto Rico, makes Aguadilla a convenient destination if you are on the mainland.

Crashboat Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in Puerto Rico. This spot is easily recognizable by its distinctive pier, which was formerly used by the U.S. Air Force.

Wilderness Beach, Wishing Well and Surfer’s Beach, are among the many other local spots that are well known in the surfing community.

If you are more interested in arts, you should visit Museo de Arte de Aguadilla y del Caribe (MAAC) featuring work from prominent Puerto Rican artists Hernández Cruz, Tufiño, Antonio Maldonado and Cervoni. The museum also offers workshops for children.

The ruins of the Punta Borinquen lighthouse are also worth a visit. The Spanish-style lighthouse was destroyed by a tsunami caused by an earthquake in 1918 but you can walk around and explore amidst the broken brick walls that remain.

If you are a golf lover, you should visit Punta Borinquen Golf Club, an 18-hole public course with breathtaking coastal views.

The waterfront downtown area is the scenario for delicious restaurants.

Aguadilla has a wide range of accommodations such as Parador El Faro, a traditional Puerto Rican guesthouse with two pools and a lively restaurant and bar.

For a comfortable stay with on-site amenities, check into the Courtyard by Marriott Aguadilla Hotel & Casino with a fun pool for kids, an adultsonly pool, a gym, and a 24-hour casino; or book a room at Punta Borinquen Resort, within walking distance of restaurants and beaches.

Marina Real is a good place for a retreat with friends or family. A series of houses and buildings that total 14 apartments make up a contemporary marine-colonial-style holiday complex, whose façade faces the Tamarindo Alley, where visitors can eat tapas in one of the outdoor cafes and restaurants. The apartments are one and two bedroom units with fully equipped kitchen and dining rooms and a large room with satellite television and internet. All rooms have air conditioning and fans.

Marina Real is located in front of Rompeola beach, which has a 100-meter board structure for walking or jogging. There you can take a sea bath or just relax and enjoy a good book from your colonial balcony, overlooking the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

In addition to Rompeola Beach, the place has three other nearby beaches such as Wilderness and Surfers Beach, in the former Ramey Base, as well as the Crashboat spa.

There is parking available at the complex and laundry room in case you want to wash and dry clothes. You can find more details calling: 787.590.3446.

Punta Borinquen lighthouse. >Photos Courtesy Discover Puerto Rico

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2019 The America’s premier women’s basketball event, FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, is coming to Puerto Rico for the first time. The event will feature the national teams of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay, USA, and Puerto Rico.

When: Sunday, Sept. 22 to Sunday Sept., 29 Where: Coliseo Roberto Clemente, Franklin D. Roosevelt Ave., San Juan

Free Admission to San Juan National Historic Site

For National Public Lands Day, take a stroll through El Morro and Fort San Cristobal in Old San Juan.

When: Sept. 28 Where: Old San Juan, San Juan

Chef’s Table: El Jangiri For just $40.00 enjoy a four course tasting meal for dinner prepared by the talented chefs at El Jangiri in Lote 23 Food Truck Park.

When: Sept. 25, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Lote 23, 1552 Ponce de León Ave., San Juan

Seventh Annual Train Convention Celebrate the 7th annual Train Convention in the beautiful town of Isabela! There will be documentaries showing of the history of the train in PR. Donations are $5.

When: Sept. 28, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Club Gallitos Inc., St. Rd. 113, Los Gallitos street, Isabela

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/ Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Vega Baja Butterfly Garden’s First Anniversary Vega Baja celebrates the first anniversary of their butterfly garden with bounce houses, food kiosks, music, workshops and guided tours. Free admission.

When: Sept. 29, 9 a.m.

Where: Jardin Botánico El Trece, Bo. Almirante Sur, PR 160, Vega Baja

Crypto 101 Puerto Rico In this six-hour learning event, Vinny Riley, Matt Case and David Gokhshtein from Gokhshtein Media will teach you everything you need to know about blockchain, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

When: Sept. 28, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Where: Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, 200 Convention Blvd., San Juan

Ballet de San Juan “100x35” Enjoy a beautiful ballet show in the town of Vega Baja. Free admission but subject to theatre capacity.

When: Sept. 26 Where: Teatro América, José Julián Acosta street, Vega Baja

IE Application Workshop An IE University and Business school advisor will be giving tips for your master’s application process in this graduate and business school workshop.

When: Sept. 26, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Where: CoSpazio, 53 Palmeras St., Suite 401, San Juan

6th Annual Eco Agroferia de Barceloneta Join the town of Barceloneta in a weekend long celebration with hydroponic workshops, home gardens, nutrition expos, machines, local artists, animal farms, pony rides, live music and much more!

When: Sept. 28 and 29 Where: Complejo Deportivo Villa Georgetti, Palmas Altas, Barceloneta