The Weekly Journal - Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Wednesday, November 17-23, 2021 - // no. 134

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

PR’s economic growth impacted by pandemic, power outages P7

Businesses aware of the challenges of

U.S. unemployment drops to new low P8

Black Friday Retailers bet on Black Friday sales despite the risks

T

Zoe Landi Fontana, The Weekly Journal

Puerto Rican style turkey P13

his year, superstores — like Walmart, Best Buy, and Costco — might not receive their notorious Black Friday crowds. With 75% of shoppers concerned about stock-outs and 68% of shoppers planning to shop before Thanksgiving, as reported in Deloitte’s Holiday Retail Report 2021, many shoppers began purchasing products earlier than in previous years and retailers began promoting holiday sales months earlier,

with so-called Black Friday deals beginning weeks before Thanksgiving.

Jesús E. Vázquez Rivera, president of the United Retailers Association, (CUD, for its Spanish acronym) approaches this busiest time of the year with caution. In an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, Rivera said he believes this year will be different than the last, with retailers facing a different set of challenges than in 2020.

“Due to the pandemic, favorite products are scarce and inventory is lower, and there GO TO PAGE 4

The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, November 17, 2021 > 2

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a week in review POSSIBLE AGREEMENT IN SIGHT

Archive

After four months of negotiations, the possibility of an agreement between ports operator Luis Ayala Colón and the International Longshoremen Association (ILA) is finally on the horizon.

Even though they are still in a mediation process, the operator and the syndicate have agreed on just about every item included in the stipulations being discussed.

According to a source close to the process, both parts are “currently ironing out the [agreement’s] language,” before proceeding to sign it.

After an inspection from the federal Occupational Safety Hazards Administration (OSHA), the syndicate’s safety concerns about the operator’s actions –which were part of the controversy– have been dispelled.

WAPA TV is joining Evertec’s “ATH Móvil for Puerto Rico” initiative to promote the growth of non-for-profits organizations throughout the island.

To celebrate the recent launch of the “ATH” and “ATH Móvil” brands, the companies joined up to launch the ATH Móvil for Puerto Rico Week with a contest in which nonprofits registered to receive donations through the ATH Móvil app through the “Donate” functionality will have an opportunity to win a $5,000 bonus donated by Evertec.

The public will be able to donate to the more than 700 not-for-profit organizations active within the app. At the end of the week, the six nonprofits that receive the most

>Archive

EVERTEC LAUNCHES NEW APP FOR NOTFOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

CLUBMAN REOPENS IN SANTURCE donations will also receive a $5,000 bonus each from Evertec.

“Today we are focusing our efforts on promoting the ‘Donate’ functionality within ATH Móvil, which allows individuals to send money to nonprofits in an immediate and easy manner,” said Alexandra López Soler, Evertec’s Chief Marketing Officer.

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

Legendary gentleman’s store Clubman reopened under the name Clubman by Leonardo.

With a renewed fashion proposal, Clubman will showcase T-shirts, Bermuda shorts, swimsuits and short-sleeved shirts designed in Puerto Rico.

“We wanted to adapt to current gentleman’s fashion preferences in casual dressing. But, we’ll continue to offer our renowned semi-casual,

President Salvador Hasbún shasbun@elvocero.com

VP of Accounting Félix A. Rosa frosa@elvocero.com

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

Vp of Marketing and Business Operations Michelle Pérez Miperez@elvocero.com

VP of Production Eligio Dekony edekony@elvocero.com

VP of Editorial Content Juan Miguel Muñiz Guzmán jmuniz@elvocero.com

elegant casual and corporate image collections,” said owner Leonardo Cordero Suria.

The brand presents up-to-date designs made from light and sophisticated fabrics and colors adapted to the island’s tropical climate and culture. The goal of Clubman by Leonardo is to make men feel comfortable with his attire, while reflecting their personality and feeling rewarded for being successful.

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

Phone: 787-622-2300, 787-721-2300

Multi-Plataform Digital Director María Arce marce@elvocero.com

Customer Service: 787-622-7480

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 are currently 22% of products that are out of stock,” commented Rivera. “We have been in communication with the Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO, by its Spanish acronym) to bring an educational message to all small and medium-sized businesses in the country on how to deal with products and advertisements.”

Rivera expects that sales this year will be lower because of increased prices due to inflation, shortages of certain products, and less money on the street.

Concerns On The Island

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor

Due to the pandemic, favorite products are scarce and inventory is lower, and there are currently 22% of products that are out of stock.

–Jesús E. Vázquez Rivera, President, United Retailers Association

Statistics, inflation hit a 31-year high this October, and consumer prices jumped 6.2%.

Because of overall higher costs for food and other everyday items, holiday spending may decrease among lower-income groups.

Deloitte’s Holiday Retail Report 2021 revealed that higher-income households are driving the growth in average holiday spending. Of those that are opting out of spending this season, 65% are low-income. Although Deloitte’s report shows an overall trend of financial improvement, many Puerto Ricans do not share in this optimistic view.

A study commissioned by the Puerto Rico Chamber of Marketing, Industry, and the Distribution of Food (MIDA by its Spanish acronym) exposed that shopping habits on the island have changed. Consumers in Puerto Rico are concerned that their income will not

Some people think that this year’s Black Friday will be different than the last, with retailers facing a different set of challenges than in 2020. >Archive

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28%

of people surveyed plans on using social media to research products before deciding to buy them.

Deloitte’s Holiday Retail Report, 2021

Source: The Deloitte Holiday Retail Report, 2021

be sufficient to cover even the cost of groceries.

Another 53% of people between the ages of 35 and 54 with an income of less than $50,000 per year are anxious about having enough to eat. Though, people can receive aid through the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN, for its Spanish acronym). Approximately 50% of Puerto Rico’s population participates in the program.

In conversation with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, Manuel Reyes, executive vice-president of MIDA, elaborated on the study’s findings. Everything, in general, is more expensive. Regarding food, MIDA’s focus is on dealing with supply issues and having products available. If an item is not available, stores are working to be able to offer alternatives at similar price points. Concerning Thanksgiving feasts, Reyes says turkeys will be readily available, but they might be different from what consumers are accustomed to — this year, there are reportedly more large turkeys, than small and medium ones.

Puerto Rico faces several issues of its own regarding internal transportation of goods, monopolized ports, and the lack of reliable electricity around the island. Despite these concerns, Reyes acknowledged Puerto Rico’s relative advantages to other countries. According to him, the island has strong purchasing power, a sophisticated purchasing and logistics industry, and does well in bidding wars. Puerto Rico, he reminded, has managed to go through different crises over the years without going hungry.

The MIDA study also revealed that the island’s demographic composition is aging — the majority of consumers being elderly. The report included that the segment of people over 65 is estimated at 21.3% and is projected to increase to 27% by 2025. An aging population affects retailers as well. They usually spend less than the younger population, and in different areas, and are also less likely to partake in the flash deals that Black Friday offers.

A Consumer Advocate Weighs In

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL also reached out to Gilberto Arvelo, known as Dr. Shopper, consumer advocate and seasoned expert on Puerto Rico’s retail market, for his predictions on this year’s Black Friday action. He has been covering the shopping holiday for 18 years.

According to Arvelo, Puerto Rico was once a desirable environment for retailers. The environment has grown sparse, with declining offerings, over the past several years. Kmart and Sears, along with other giants, left the island a few years ago, leaving behind a thinning retail environment. Now, Walmart, Best Buy, and Costco reign as key superstores, offering the most sought-after Black Friday deals.

Whereas the regulatory environment surrounding the shopping holiday was once strict, it has become weak. In years past, stores were fined by DACO for false advertising. The COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced the amount of DACO agents enforcing fines.

Dr. Shopper’s overall outlook is skeptical.

He suspects that many people will be sending envelopes of cash instead of gifts, because of shipping and inventory challenges.

Online Retail Is Key

On the whole, online platforms are key for retailers. The Deloitte Holiday Retail Report 2021 detailed that although more consumers are venturing out this year, engagement with digital platforms is essential. Of this year’s retail spending, 65% is expected to occur online.

Curbside pickup, BOPIS (buy online pick-up instore), which require ordering from a website, continue to be popular.

Additionally, retailers need to promote their products using social media, while also maintaining an up-to-date and easy-to-navigate website. Deloitte’s report states that 28% of

• 75% of shoppers are concerned about stock-outs.

• 68% of shoppers are planning to shop before Thanksgiving.

• 65% of households that are opting out of spending this season are lowincome.

• Of this year’s retail spending, 65% is expected to occur online.

people intend to use social media to research products before deciding to buy them.

With fewer mass merchants on the island than in previous years, online shopping offers residents of Puerto Rico more options than in-store, although they may not receive their items on time due to the global shipping delays. As found in MIDA’s study, fears of contracting COVID-19 persist among 77% of Puerto Ricans. Not only does this result in fewer trips to the shops, but emphasizes the prevailing significance of e-commerce.

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Soaring prices likely to impact holiday shopping

U.S. is facing its highest inflation rate since 1990

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The Weekly Journal Staff

worsening surge of inflation for such bedrock necessities as food, rent, autos and heating oil is setting Americans up for a financially difficult Thanksgiving and holiday shopping season.

Prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.2% in October compared with a year earlier, leaving families facing their highest inflation rate since 1990, the Labor Department said last week. From September to October, prices jumped 0.9%.

Inflation is eroding the strong gains in wages and salaries that have flowed to America’s workers in recent months, creating a political threat to the Biden administration and congressional Democrats and intensifying pressure on the Federal Reserve as it considers how fast to withdraw its efforts to boost the economy.

What’s Causing the Spike?

Fueling the spike in prices has been robust consumer demand, which has run into persistent supply shortages from COVID-related factory shutdowns in China, Vietnam and other overseas

manufacturers. America’s employers, facing worker “The fear now is: ‘How I’m I going to pay?’ ‘How shortages, have also been handing out sizable pay much money do I have?’ ‘If I still have the same raises, and many of them have raised prices to money I used to have in my pocket, how I’m I offset those higher labor costs. going to buy all the articles I bought before?’,” said The accelerating price Richard Valdés, president of increases have fallen the Consumer Radiography disproportionately on lowercommittee. earning households, which On his part, Mario Rodríguez, spend a significant portion of president of Rodz Digital, their incomes on food, rent, and said that while prices increased In Puerto Rico, 61.3% gas. Food banks are struggling an average of 7% per unit, there of public utilities to assist the needy, with beef, were items registering 30% cost more than the egg and peanut butter prices increase from January to August. jumping. Millions of households Furthermore, according average for the 290 that are planning year-end to the Cost of Living Index countries surveyed. travel, Thanksgiving dinners and published by the Puerto Rico Prices are 20% holiday gift-giving will be forced Institute of Statistics (IEPR, for higher than the to pay much more this year. its Spanish acronym) 61.3% of average for those public services (utilities) cost same countries.

Consumer Sentiment Study more than the average for the 290 countries surveyed. Prices in Puerto Rico for supermarket products are In Puerto Rico, most 20% higher than the average for consumers worry about whether those same countries. their income would be enough to cover the cost of the food they used to buy, according to the Consumer Radiography Study commissioned by the A Worldwide Experience The jump in inflation is hardly confined to the Chamber of Marketing, Industry and Distribution of U.S. Prices have been accelerating in Europe and Food (MIDA, for its Spanish acronym). elsewhere, too, with annual inflation in the 19 The study revealed that 53% of Puerto Ricans countries that use the euro currency exceeding are more concerned about having enough to eat, 4% in October, the most in 13 years, and energy particularly those in the 35 to 54 year range, with a prices spiking 23%. In Brazil, inflation soared more yearly income of less than $50,000.

In fact,

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The inflation overshoot will likely get worse before it gets better.

In Puerto Rico, most consumers worry about whether their income would be enough to cover the cost of the food they used to buy. >Archive

–Goldman Sachs economists

than 10% in the 12 months through October, according to data released last week. Higher prices for electricity, cooking gas, meat and other staples have plunged many Brazilians further into financial instability.

Americans are now spending 15% more on goods than before the pandemic. Ports, trucking companies and railroads can’t keep up, and the resulting bottlenecks are swelling prices. Surging inflation has broadened beyond pandemicdisrupted industries into the many services that Americans spend money on, notably for restaurant meals, rental apartments and medical services, which jumped 0.5% in October.

At the same time, the economy is managing to sustain its recovery from the pandemic recession, and consumers, on average, have plenty of money to spend. That contrasts with the “stagflation” of the 1970s, when households endured the double hardship of high unemployment and high inflation.

Many Americans are also receiving healthy pay raises, especially workers at restaurants, hotels and

entertainment venues, where hourly wages are up more than 10% from a year ago. And families, on average, have built up substantial savings from stimulus checks and enhanced unemployment benefits.

McDonald’s boosted hourly pay 10% to 15% over the past year and is paying more for food and paper. The company said last month that it raised prices 6% in the July-September quarter from a year earlier. Yet, company sales leapt 14% as virus restrictions eased.

Fast food prices soared 7.1% in October from a year earlier, the government said last week. That was the largest such increase on record, reflecting higher costs for beef and other foods as well as rapidly rising labor costs.

“We’re still looking at an economy in a strong position,” said Sarah House, a senior economist at

Wells Fargo. “The consumer is still going out and spending, which is why we are seeing the price gains we’re seeing.”

Unpredictable Future

Economists still expect inflation to slow once supply bottlenecks are cleared and Americans shift more of their consumption back to pre-pandemic norms. Consumers should then spend more on travel, entertainment and other services and less on goods such as cars, furniture, and appliances.

This would reduce pressure on supply chains.

But no one knows how long that might take.

Higher inflation has persisted much longer than most economists had expected.

“The inflation overshoot will likely get worse before it gets better,” said Goldman Sachs economists in a recent research note.

Puerto Rico’s economic growth affected by pandemic, power outages, federal fundS According to economist Chantal Benet, from Inteligencia Económica consulting group, inflation will continue to be high and is still The economic growth Puerto Rico has unclear the economic outlook for 2022. experienced due to the significant federal and “Sales will start to decrease as federal aids state programs to offset the effects of the phase out,” Benet said.

COVID-19 pandemic has changed the behavior On the other hand, Argeo Quiñones, and consumer habits of Puerto Ricans. anticipated an unfavorable economic outlook, “It is not that people have more money now, arguing several of the economic projections that but how they distribute what have been presented “are not they have. The pandemic has real.” taken its toll on workers,” “Several of the scenarios said economist Martha that have been presented Quiñones. are not sustainable and the According to Quiñones, economic growth that has The cumulative value the constant power outages been mentioned is not going of retail sales in in homes and businesses to materialize.”

Puerto Rico for the also help to increase According to Department first seven months consumption. of Economic Development of 2021(January to “If there is no power, you and Commerce’s (DDEC, July) increased 30.8 need to eat out, particularly for its Spanish acronym) percent when families with children. These statistics, the cumulative compared to the situations, which have an value of retail sales for same period last island-wide impact, have an the first seven months year. economic effect,” argued of 2021(January to Quiñones, while anticipating July) increased 30.8 percent the current situation will when compared to the continue for a long time. same period last year. Retail Several economists expect next year to be sales reached more than $21.3 billion during that same period. “uncertain” in terms of the cost of food and As of last September –the last month for materials, as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic will develop (vaccination, virus variants, etc.), which up-to-date data is available– retail sales the possibility of new federal aid and the in Puerto Rico have been in the black for 14 unemployment rate, among other factors. consecutive months.

Brenda A. Vázquez Colón

In fact,

In Puerto Rico, retail sales reached more than $21.3 billion during the period from January to July of this year. >Carlos Rivera Giusti

It is not that people have more money now, but how they distribute what they have.

–Martha Quiñones, economist

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Job market in the US in on the mend

Employers have added more than 18 million jobs since the lockdowns in 2020

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Paul Wiseman, The Associated Press

ASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a new pandemic low of 267,000 as the job market recovers from last year’s sharp coronavirus downturn.

Jobless claims fell by 4,000 last week, the Labor Department reported. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out weekly ups and downs, dropped by nearly 7,300 to 278,000, also a pandemic low.

Applications for unemployment aid have been falling mostly steadily since topping 900,000 in early January and are gradually nearing pre-pandemic levels of around 220,000 a week. Claims, a proxy for layoffs, have now dropped for six straight weeks.

There were 2.2 million Americans collecting traditional unemployment benefits the week that ended Oct. 30.

“Overall, the downtrend in filings is continuing, and the level is moving closer to pre-pandemic levels,’’ wrote Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. “Businesses facing labor shortages are likely retaining rather than laying off workers.’’

Positive Trend for More Than a Year

The job market has been recovering for the past year and a half. In March and April 2020, employers slashed more than 22 million jobs as governments ordered lockdowns and consumers and workers stayed home as a health precaution.

Since then, employers have added more than 18 million jobs — including 531,000 last month — as the rollout of vaccines and government relief programs gave consumers the confidence and financial wherewithal to resume spending.

Now many businesses, scrambling to keep up with demand, complain they can’t find workers to fill their job openings — a near-record 10.4 million in August.

Still, the economy remains more than 4 million jobs short of where it stood in February 2020.

Businesses facing labor shortages are likely retaining rather than laying off workers.

– Rubeela Farooqi, Chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics

Long-term mortgage rates continue to fall The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Average long-term mortgage rates in the U.S. fell again, as the key 30-year rate again retreated below the 3% mark.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported that the average rate on the benchmark home loan declined to 2.98% from 3.09%. Last year, at this time, the rate stood at 2.84%.

The rate for a 15-year loan, a popular option for homeowners refinancing their mortgages, fell to 2.27% from 2.35% last week.

Rates remain historically low, though limited inventory and rising prices are leaving many potential homebuyers on the sidelines.

Freddie Mac economists attributed the latest decline in mortgage rates to a recent rally in prices in the Treasury bond market, which saw yields on key Treasurys falling to their lowest level since July. Long-term bond yields, which can influence rates on mortgages and other

consumer loans, generally fall when bond prices rise.

Persisting Inflation

Last week, the Federal Reserve announced that it would keep its main borrowing rate near zero but begin dialing back the extraordinary stimulus it has provided since the coronavirus pandemic erupted

last year. The Fed said it will start reducing its $120 billion in monthly bond purchases in the coming weeks, by $15 billion a month, citing an improving economy and escalating concern that an inflation spike now seems likely to persist.

The central bank’s action comes as higher prices for just about everything — food, rent, heating oil, autos and other necessities — have burdened households. Fueling the spike in prices has been robust consumer demand, which has run into persistent supply shortages from COVIDrelated factory shutdowns in China, Vietnam and other overseas manufacturers.

The worsening surge of inflation for bedrock necessities is setting many Americans up for a financially difficult Thanksgiving and holiday shopping season. The government reported Wednesday that prices for U.S. consumers jumped 6.2% in October compared with a year earlier — leaving families facing the highest inflation rate since 1990. From September to October, prices jumped 0.9%.

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PR Manufacturers Association launched its “ehub”

Networking and marketing are taken to new heights

T

Brenda Vázquez

Consumer habits and interpersonal relations have change during this last year.

We are reinventing the way we interact with our associates.

bvazquez@elvocero.com

he Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (PRMA) launched its personalized “ehub” platform geared towards creating connections, collaborations and the marketing of products and services, as well as achieving greater contact with its associates and the public.

The ehub is a multiservice platform that allows its users to connect virtually at any time to expand their networks, access education and generate business opportunities while promoting their products and services. It has a menu with more than 10 sections and a 360-degree visualization, where PRMA’s past and upcoming events are displayed. Users can also access online seminars, live broadcasts, marketing events, directories, activities calendars and a private chat to talk to other associates or clients interested in networking with the island’s manufacturing sector.

“We’re convinced that firm and inclusive contacts among the different business sectors will develop from these activities and online events to transform and create new services and solutions to satisfy everybody,” said PRMA president Carlos Rodríguez.

Exhibits

According to Rodríguez, the platform will include an area where associates and their businesses will showcase their brands through different initiatives

Yandia Pérez, Vice President, PRMA

and strategies, “advertising” them in constant automatic rotation. They could also increase their contact with prospective clients from the exhibits’ area, where users would feel that they are physically sharing the same space.

“The exhibits is the interactive space where you see everything. It is a new way of connecting remotely from anywhere in the world and do business, show products and services in a virtual format with a 360-degree experience,” Rodríguez said of the PRMA’s new business strategy.

According to the president, each user would have access to a digital backpack that will allow him or her to save relevant information from any section of the “ehub.”

Advertisers will also have the chance to include information and promotions in the user’s backpack, very much like when they receive a bag full of promotional articles or gifts during an in-

person event.

In the community section, there is access to business magazines and PRMA’s social media, as well as a tour of different activities. In the education section there are workshops and interactive events, including continuing education courses, some of which are validated as requisite for some license renewal processes.

PRMA is also negotiating alliances with universities in the United States to broaden its education program to include subjects like human resources, occupational safety and health, financing and incentives, among others.

“Consumer habits and interpersonal relations have change during this last year. We are reinventing the way we interact with our associates.

With the launching of the ‘ehub’ we are presenting the next step in the evolution of virtual and hybrid experiences, thus allowing our associates, participants and sponsors to obtain a higher value and new opportunities to connect,” said Yandia Pérez, PRMA’s executive vice-president.

Pueblo opens new store in Guaynabo THE WEEKLY JOURNAL Staff

Pueblo Supermarkets opened its 22nd store in Puerto Rico.

The new supermarket, located in Las Cumbres Avenue in Guaynabo, has 37,000 square feet of commercial space and will operate on a 24/7 schedule. The $10 million project will create 140 new jobs.

“As a Puerto Rican company, it is an honor to inaugurate our 22nd store, which will help to

strengthen the island’s economy,” said Pueblo Supermarkets president Ramón Calderón.

The new supermarket offers a huge inventory of national and exclusive brands, such as Food Club®, specialty products, and a great variety of gourmet products.

The new store also offers what Pueblo executives described as the “new and convenient concept of The Village Food Center,” which offers an ample menu of prepared foods. At The Village, customers will find coffee stations, açai and natural juices, artisan pastas,

pizzas, sandwiches and a varied selection of local dishes, among other offerings.

“Customers are looking for quick solutions to attend to their daily needs. The ‘Good to Go’ variety offers that convenience for different situations, be it lunch, dinner, snacks or hors d’oeuvres for home gatherings,” said William Cristóbal, Pueblo’s vice-president in charge of Operations and Distribution Center.

Pueblo Supermarkets is a Puerto Rican company that provides 1,950 jobs throughout its 22 stores across the island.

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MAOR ELBAZSTARINSKY

During his visit to Puerto Rico, Maor Elbaz-Starinsky met with Governor Pedro Pierluisi. >Courtesy

Consul General of Israel Brings Collaborations to PR

Maor Elbaz-Starinsky hits the ground running during recent trip

C

Zoe Landi, The Weekly Journal

onsul General Maor Elbaz-Starinsky recently visited Puerto Rico on his first trip as Consul General of Israel in Miami to promote economic and technological collaboration between the two countries. He has been in the position for five months, presiding over Florida, Kansas, Missouri, and Puerto Rico. There had been no permanent Israeli Consul General to Puerto Rico since Nov. 2019.

Elbaz-Starinsky’s last trip to the island was 25 years ago, as a scuba instructor on a cruise ship. This past visit was much different. In an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, he described his visit as “busy and intensive”, and anticipated that “good things are coming our way”.

Good things were under way before his whirlwind of a visit. He arrived to the island with concrete proposals for agriculture, innovation, and humanitarian relief corporations in

hand. Prior to arriving, he underwent intensive preparation, identifying Puerto Rico’s needs and holding discussions with various industry leaders to identify vital projects.

The Molecular Science Research Center of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) was an important stop on his itinerary as well. As a scientist -he received a BA in Biology from the Department of Biology at Tel Aviv University- Elbaz-Starinsky was impressed by the university’s life sciences faculty. With potential for further biomedical and pharmaceutical research, it would be “a wonderful place for interested Israeli scientists to take a look at opportunities”, said the Consul General. Additionally, UPR students and faculty participated in a video conference call on creating innovation ecosystems with an Israeli company from California.

Aid To Southern Town

The trip then took him south to Guánica, a town that had been devastated by an earthquake in early 2020. There, more than a year after the natural disaster hit, a community center still stood unusable. An integral part of the town, the Guánica Community Center was a place for people to come together, play sports, and hold meetings and events. The consulate identified the center as a humanitarian aid project, with tens of thousands of dollars secured to begin its renovation.

His visit was filled with back-to-back meetings, in which he saw most of the Puerto Rican political leadership.

Talks between the Consul General and Governor Pierluisi encompassed the challenges and opportunities between Puerto Rico and Israel, especially regarding each country’s handling of the pandemic. The Consul General praised the island’s vaccination rate and performance dealing with COVID-19, as well as the return of cruise ships and tourists, both crucial to the local economy. They exchanged ideas on enhancing tourism and facing challenges on the island.

According to the Consul General, there are many opportunities for job creation, bringing corporations, training personnel, and developing small to medium enterprises in Puerto Rico. He would like to implement partnerships and coalitions between the two countries, as well as collaborations in the fields of aviation, marine biology, medicine, agriculture, and renewable energy. One example of many developments that could be implemented in Puerto Rico is a power generator developed by a Florida-based Israeli company that operates 70% on water and 30% on ethanol, “a much cleaner alternative to diesel,” he said.

Before leaving, Elbaz-Starinsky invited Governor Pierluisi, Speaker of the House Rafael Hernández and Senate President José L. Dalmau to join a US delegation visiting Israel next month.

• Assumed the position of Consul General of Israel in Miami in June.

• A career diplomat since 2006, he will be building partnerships and coalitions for Israel with the people and governments of Florida, Kansas, Missouri, and Puerto Rico.

• For the last four years, headed the Training and Personnel Development Department of the Foreign Ministry.

• Served as a Policy Adviser to the Israeli Delegation to the European Union and NATO, where he oversaw the regional strategic political and security issues.

• Holds an MA, with distinction, in Conflict Management and Resolution from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Also attended a Master’s degree program in immunology at the Graduate School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. His BA is in Biology from the Department of Biology at Tel Aviv University, where he ran projects in Marine and Molecular Biology.

• He is an avid runner and a scuba diver and marine enthusiast.

NAVIDAD

@

M

A

P

R

Christmas Party @ MAPR

jueves, 16 de diciembre de 7:00 pm a 12 medianoche.

Thursday, December 16th, 2021 7:00 pm to 12:00 midnight.

.

Separa tu espacio, sólo 300 personas.

300 people maximum, please RSVP.

Para información de auspicio o compra de boletos ($300 pp), favor de comunicarse a mperez@mapr.org, 787 977-4449 o 787 376-4317.

For information of sponsorships or to buy your tickets, please send message to mperez@mapr.org or call at 787 977-4449/787 376-4317.

Vestimenta semiformal, sugerimos rojo y dorado.

Dress code: Semi-formal red and gold.

Oro/Gold

Vocero

el

de Puerto Rico

Plata/ Silver

www.elvocero.com

Vocero elVocero el

de Puerto Rico

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de Puerto Rico

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Bronce/Bronze

< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, November 17, 2021

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Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz,

Licensed Architect and co-founder of the architectural firm Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón www.advfirm.com

MANAGING POST-DISASTER RECONSTRUCTION

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ebuild Resiliently

As we continue to face devastating natural disasters throughout the world, we should all focus on building resiliently.

Resilient design is the calculated design of structures that are made to withstand natural or man-made disasters and facilitate a speedy recovery.

Examples of resilient design applications include shading devices, daylighting techniques, proper insulation, durable building envelopes, durable entrance points and more.

Resilient design also helps people maintain livable conditions during interruptions of basic services (electricity, water, etc.) or disturbances resulting from climate change such as warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, intensified storms, and wildfires.

Employ Sustainable Design

We all need to embrace and understand the importance of using sustainable design measures.

Sustainable and renewable energy systems can provide long-term value and benefits, especially after natural disasters.

Multilayered impact-resistant windows, for example, protect a building from hurricane-force winds while also saving energy and reducing power bills.

Alternative and sustainable energy systems such as solar panels and solar thermal systems are becoming more available to people. We need to be demanding and request sustainable measures like these to get through future emergencies.

Enforce Building Codes

Building codes protect public welfare by regulating design and construction practices, materials, location, occupancy and maintenance of buildings and structures. Strict, uniform building codes help save lives and mitigate property damage caused by natural and man-made disasters.

The Caribbean is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes and the damage caused by them. These powerful storms have encouraged innovation and stricter construction standards and building codes in that area.

By making structures more resistant to damage caused by natural and man-made disasters, we have to require and implement the latest building codes into all designs, to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries and save billions of dollars in property.

Use Federal Funds

Federal funds are essential to create resilient

reconstruction, aimed to help and accelerate disaster recovery.

We all need to embrace and understand the importance of using sustainable design measures. Sustainable and renewable energy systems can provide long-term value and benefits, especially after natural disasters. communities and manage post-disaster reconstruction. Making good and efficient use of these funds helps communities recover quickly.

For example, the Government of Puerto Rico is directing the implementation of CDBG-DR funds to support recovery, reconstruction, economic revitalization and housing development initiatives on the island.

We can all take advantage of federal funding programs available for safe and resilient

Educate Communities

While no one can anticipate all the consequences of a natural disaster, past events have taught us that being prepared is the key to successfully overcoming them.

We can all benefit of resources like the Keep Safe Guide for Resilient Housing Design in Island Communities to help people and communities become educated and be better prepared to survive future disasters.

We as architects have a responsibility to educate people on how to prepare their homes and communities for future natural and manmade hazards, and also help create resilient communities that can be better equipped to manage disasters.

Design For The Future

The extensive damage and human suffering caused by natural and man-made disasters reminds all of us of the importance of managing post-disaster reconstruction right. That is why we should all think long-term and consider the worstcase scenarios when aiming to invest in resilient and sustainable buildings, communities, and cities.

/ Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Thanksgiving 2021,

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Puerto Rican Style

Pavochón is a turkey that’s been seasoned and cooked like roasted pork

D

Juan A. Hernández

espite attempts by vegetarians and vegans activists to derail tradition, Thanksgiving Day is still all about the turkey (after the act of thanking, of course).

That is to say that the success of the Thanksgiving dinner hinges on the turkey… how it is made, how it is presented and how it tastes. Of course, being a long-standing tradition, almost every family has a book on Thanksgiving, particularly on how to cook the bird.

Now, let’s face it: cooking a turkey is a daunting task.

These birds are huge, they come frozen solid (unless you buy them fresh, which is not realistic here on the island), they need hours to cook and, in the end, no single family can eat up a whole turkey.

In fact, Pavochón is a made-up word combining the Spanish words for turkey (pavo) and roast pig (lechón).

Pavochón ready to be served at Lechonera El Paso. > Courtesy

The secret to its flavor is to use the same adobo used for the lechón.

Damaris López, owner, Lechonera El Paso

So, if you don’t want leftovers to make Thanksgiving a week-long affair, one alternative is to make that turkey as delicious as a lechón. Enter the pavochón, a turkey that tastes like a lechón.

How’s Done

A made-up word combining the Spanish words for turkey (pavo) and roast pig (lechón), the pavochón is a turkey that’s been seasoned and cooked like roasted pork. And, while its preparation is sometimes guarded as a national top secret by some local chefs, you too can master the pavochón technique.

“The secret to its flavor is to use the same adobo used for the lechón,” said Damaris López, owner of legendary Lechonera El Paso, in Guaynabo, who has been roasting pavochón for the last 12 years.

“You start out with several garlic cloves… use as many as you think necessary, depending on how much your turkey weighs. For a 15 or 16-pound turkey, you may use two or three heads of garlic,” López instructed.

The garlic is mashed to a paste in a mortar along with salt, adobo with sazón, cilantro and annatto, and a cup of vegetable oil, approximately.

Those who prefer to save some time and labor can resort to their trusty food processor to mix the ingredients.

For López, measuring ingredients is important, but that is part of the family’s secret recipe and, while she is willing to share some of her recipe, she declined to be more specific, except for the use of pepper. “We never use pepper in our turkeys.”

“This is something you develop, and once you have it, you keep it. People’s palate is different from one to the other. So, you must adjust [for taste], first to your family’s and then, when everybody likes it, you stick to the recipe,” said López.

Once you have your oily mix, you are ready to rub the turkey. Ángel Tirado, López’s husband and co-manager of Lechonera El Paso, emphasizes the turkey must be rubbed inside and out for the flavor to be infused into the bird’s meat. When rubbing

the inside, he suggests making some incisions to guarantee maximum flavor, but warns against doing so on the outside.

“If you cut the flesh, as the turkey cooks the flesh and skin will swell-out, blemishing its appearance. The turkey won’t look good,” he said.

Once you are done with the rub, you have to let it marinate overnight before stuffing it and putting it into the oven. Stuffing also varies with personal preferences, but “mofongo” (mashed green plantains with bacon) is always a favorite.

Cooking time will depend on the size of the bird, but it is safe to say a 15-pound turkey will need 10 to 15 minutes per pound to be fully cooked, or three and a half hours approximately, in a 450-degree oven. López also emphasized that temperature should be constant. So, you need to refrain yourself from constantly checking how the turkey is doing because every time you open the oven to check on it, the temperature drops several degrees, and it will take longer to cook.

After all the grueling waiting, you and your guests are ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Of course, if you decide not to go through all the work of roasting your own turkey, you can always opt to order one from Lechonera El Paso, on road PR 173, Barrio Hato Nuevo in Guaynabo.

Bon appétit!

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/ Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Cocktails for the Holidays ‘Tis the season for celebration and family gatherings

In fact, Bravada Vodka is distilled six times in a copper still and in small batches.

The Weekly Journal Staff

W

e must get ready for the Holiday season ahead, despite the pandemic and the hardships this year brought unto us.

And, of course, what better way than adding some spice to the holidays.

To help with our preparations, Casa Bravada, home of Bravada Vodka, the first and only Puerto Rican grain-based vodka, have provided us with some classic cocktail recipes and some new innovative ones for the holidays ahead. From our very classic Coquito, to the nouveau Pink Brava, be ready to be praised by your guests.

Just mix the ingredients and enjoy!

Brava Tonic

Coquito Bravo Pink Brava

Ingredients: 2 oz. Bravada Vodka 1 oz blueberries 3/4 oz lemon/lime juice 1/2 oz mint syrup ¼ oz Elderflower liquor Garnish: blueberries and silver dust

Ingredients: 2 oz. Bravada Vodka 1 oz espresso coffee 1 oz coconut cream

Sol Bravo

Ingredients: 2 oz. Bravada Vodka 1 oz mandarin juice 3/4 oz lemon juice 3/4 oz Agave Top off with ginger soda

Ingredients: 2 oz. Bravada Vodka Top off with tonic water Garnish: rosemary, pomegranate and lemon wheel S

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/ Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Elwin Joel Méndez Collection

Gabriel Maisonet Collection

Gaby Prego Collection

Good Demon by Bryan Agosto

Jorge Marrero Collection

Kristina Alexander Collection

Puerto Rican fashion celebrated at “The Emerging” show

12 of the island’s brightest designers converge in a celebration of talents Zoe Landi, The Weekly Journal

T

welve talented fashion designers showcased their creations at the Puerto Rican Fashion History Council (PRFHC) earlier this month after a demanding evaluation from a group of the island’s fashion gurus.

The 12 participating designers and their creations were originally selected from among 80 designers competing to win a spot in “The Emerging” - a fashion show and platform to showcase the newest talent in Puerto Rican fashion. Their designs were evaluated on the cut, construction of pieces, illustration and conceptualization of their creations, and “total look”.

“It is essential to create the conditions for the professional development of our emerging talents.

Against all odds, we are committed to being facilitators,” said Joseph Da’ Ponte, President of the PRFHC. In August, in the first round of the competition, 80 young designers presented virtually their collections to a jury composed of various experts in the fashion industry. Of those, 40 were selected to continue.

In the last round, the PRFHC named the final 12 that would participate in “The Emerging”. The show was held on Nov. 3 at the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico, where the 12 designers presented around 10 ensembles each.

Another especially innovative participant was Tania Andrea Torres Pamias. With concerns over Unified by their Puerto Rican backgrounds, the textile pollution on the rise, Tania Andrea created winning designers came from different areas of the TaniAndrea, an environmentally friendly and superisland. Most received their fashion education from recycling fashion movement that focuses on using EDP University - San Juan School of Design, or the recycled textiles. Her movement seeks to raise Lisa Thon Fashion School Design Center. It was a cultural awareness of the problems within garment mix of ages, aesthetics, and experiences. Almost all manufacturing. Thus, her ensembles use textiles have presented at various fashion venues, including recovered and collected worldwide. Her collection at New York Fashion Week, and many have dressed “The Emerging” was an eclectic mix of fabrics, with Puerto Rican beauty queens. The participating an emphasis on recycled jeans. A single pair of jeans, designers, were: Jorge L. Marrero Oliveras, Wilberto according to Levis Strauss & Co., needs 3,781 liters of Pérez Irizarry, Kristal Rodríguez, Gabriela Hernández water to be produced.

Prego, Gabriel Maisonet, Kristian Alexander, Tania Tania came to fashion Andrea Torres Pamias, Carmen following years of experience in Peña, Ashleen Castillo, Elvin the communications industry.

Joel Méndez Fontánez, William After her first career gave her Murphy Guitard, and Bryan perspectives on fashion, trends, Agosto González. and strategic communication, The most untraditional 12 designers and she followed her passion for silhouettes and combinations of their creations were design and studied at the Dasan colors and textures was shown originally selected Academy. For many years, she in the WMurphy Collection. from among 80 worked as a dressmaker for José Designer William Murphy designers.

Braulio Atelier until she opened Guitard hails from Vega Alta.

TaniAndrea in 2014. Currently, As a youth, his potential was she is an undertreasurer on the realized after he crafted an board of advisors of the Recycling unexpectedly stylish dress for Museum of Puerto Rico. Tania his sister when he was 14 years old. Key elements also offers educational talks about textile pollution of his inventive ensembles at The Emerging to raise awareness in Puerto Rico. Her mission is to were the use of brightly colored plastic triangles, create fashion while simultaneously ending the mass including a dress and skirt completely made from production of fast-fashion clothing, applying the this material, and absurdly exaggerated, layered formula of the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. puffed sleeves. William’s promise as a designer is Miss World Puerto Rico 2016, Stephanie Del Valle to bring unconventional new adventures to the international runway, in a bid to find a unique artistic Diaz, closed the show praising the participating designers, and reminding the audience that the style through a creatively chaotic mix of textures, silhouettes, and colors. He is an active student at the Miss World 2021 finals will be held in Puerto Rico this December. It will be the first time in the Lisa Thon Fashion Center and has already had the competition’s history that a Spanish-speaking opportunity to work with iconic artists such as Zion country will be the host. and Lenox, Bad Bunny, and Combo Chimborazo.

Eclectic Mix of Shapes and Textures

In fact,

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