The Weekly Journal - November 20, 2019

Wednesday, November 20-26, 2019 - // no. 030

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

STUDY SAYS P.R. HOME PRICES INCREASED IN FIVE TOWNS P6 PHARMA AND THE FOREIGN CORPORATION TAX P8 P.R.’S RECYCLING CHALLENGES P10

PUERTO RICO BETS ON

ACTS 20 & 22 Study projects about 200 percent growth in both tax incentive programs during the next 10 years

A Rosario Fajardo

CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM EXPLORES “ANARCHY AND DIALECTIC IN DESIRE” P20

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

study commissioned by the Economic Development and Commerce Department (DDEC by its Spanish acronym), forecasts “conservative and steady growth” for the Acts 20 and 22 tax incentive programs in Puerto Rico during the next 10 years.

Assuming that no major unforeseen events occur, such as the federal government intervening in some way, Act 20 grantees should increase from the current 1,850 to

5,026 by 2029, representing a steady growth of 200 percent during the next 10-year period.

Meanwhile, Act 22 grantees will increase from the current 2,202 to 6,392 by 2029, also showing a steady growth of 190 percent during the next 10year period.

“We are competing with the world. There are [various] ways to attract capital and new investment: incentives, federal funds, issue debt responsibly and improve infrastructure, education and the business climate,” said Economic Development Secretary Manuel Laboy.

GO TO PAGE 4

The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, November 20, 2019 > 2

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/ Wednesday, November 20, 2019

A WEEK IN REVIEW

>Courtesy Boehringer Ingelheim

$50 MILLION EXPANSION FOR BOEHRINGER PLANT IN BARCELONETA

>Courtesy AES

>Brandon Cruz González

Boehringer Ingelheim, a leading global provider of animal health products for pets and livestock, has announced an expansion of their manufacturing site in Puerto Rico. The investment will create up to 105 full-time jobs in three to five years, thus increasing the amount of full-time workers to approximately 322. The Barceloneta plant has been in operation for 48 years.

AES AND GOOGLE CREATE ALLIANCE TO ACCELERATE THE FUTURE OF ENERGY The AES Corporation announced that it is entering into a 10-year strategic alliance with Google to accelerate the growth and adoption of clean energy by leveraging Google Cloud technology to pioneer innovation in the sector.

The two companies will work together to improve the experience for corporate energy customers and to develop and implement solutions that enable the broad adoption of clean energy.

AES will collaborate with Google Cloud on energy management and opportunities to sponsor clean energy projects in targeted markets within the United States and Latin America that have the potential to help Google meet its clean energy objectives. As part of this alliance, AES will use Google Cloud technology to help create the grid of the future and improve the experience for energy customers.

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

PUDGE’S PIZZA TO OPEN AT DISTRICT LIVE! Puerto Rican Hall of Fame catcher Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez unveiled details about the restaurant he will open within District Live! in San Juan on April 2020.

Within its menu, the restaurant will have seven varieties of pizza created exclusively by the Hall of Fame catcher. The pizzas pay homage to his roots; the Vega Baja, which is a pizza that includes shredded chicken, BBQ pizza sauce, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, and coriander; the 20-20 which has buffalo chicken, red onion, bacon, blue cheese and spicy buffalo sauce; and the Texas Slinger which has spicy chicken, spicy refried beans, red onion, chipotle honey sauce and three cheeses. Pudge’s Pizza debuted last August at Texas Live! when the project opened in the Arlington Entertainment District.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “This study shows positive results, as it demonstrates that both laws are promoting economic development in Puerto Rico… both laws are generating investments and employment, and both laws are continuing to attract companies and individuals to Puerto Rico,” he said.

Act 20, or the Export Services Act, is focused on promoting the island as an export business hub.

The law provides incentives to companies that export services, such as a 4 percent corporate tax rate, and 100 percent tax exemption on dividends from business earnings derived from export services.

Act 22, or the Act to Promote the Relocation of Individual Investors to Puerto Rico, is focused on promoting wealthy individuals to move to the island, and provides a 100 percent tax exemption on all interest, dividends and long-term capital gains.

Consulting firm Estudios Técnicos, which conducted the study, updated its previous forecasts for Acts 20 and 22. “Program regulatory changes, along with structural changes in the performance of the local economy have impacted previous forecasts,” said the study. However, “variables such as employment and investment have not diverged from expected trends.

Grantees have shown a low elasticity to program requirements (i.e. relaxation of job requirements have not translated into less jobs generated by both acts).”

While not mentioning Hurricane Maria specifically, the report clearly shows a decline in

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grantees during 2017 for Act 20 companies. Still, jobs and $9.1 billion in sales. Non-eligible activities as Puerto Rico recovered from the onslaught of tend to be more cyclical, essentially have a big the hurricane, the numbers also went back increase in employment in the first year, up again. For calendar year 2016, there before declining, the study said. were 292 Act 20 grantees. This For the Act 22 program, of number dipped to 189 in 2017 and the 6,392 grantees projected then jumped back up to 630 in by 2029, there should be a 2018. corresponding 14,600 jobs Interestingly, the numbers created in Puerto Rico. The held steady for Act 22 grantees aggregate impact for the during the same time period. real-estate sector in terms of There were 355 grantees for investments made, should calendar year 2016; 374 in be roughly $7.4 billion in 2017, when Maria hit; then a purchased properties. An big jump to 622 in additional investment in 2018. property rentals should Based on the reach $450 million. current forecast, The study projects that the projected 5,026 “money spent in Puerto grantees in Act 20 Rico” by Act 22 grantees will have generated will have reached more than 24,000 $1 billion by 2029, jobs across the island according to the study. and $12.7 billion in sales on eligible A Success Story by exporting activities the Numbers alone, according To date, the 1,680 - José Joaquín Villamil, the CEO of to the study. For decrees granted by Estudios Técnicos eligible activities, DDEC since 2015 for employment is Act 20 companies have forecast to increase generated 8,257 direct jobs on eligible activities consistently along with sales. and 8,435 in non-eligible activities, for a total of Non-eligible activities for economic activity in 16,693 direct jobs created. The average salary of Puerto Rico should generate an additional 21,159 these jobs is $35,644 a year. The study estimates

This is new money, new investments coming to Puerto Rico. Their sales are growing.

They are creating jobs. They are buying and renting properties.

DDEC Secretary Manuel Laboy and, in the background, José Joaquín Villamil, the CEO of Estudios Técnicos >Brandon Cruz González

that total jobs, direct and indirect, generated by Act 20 companies is 36,222 across the island.

Not surprisingly, most of the firms are concentrated in San Juan, followed by Guaynabo, Dorado, Humacao and Carolina. In terms of companies, consulting firms continue to comprise the largest portion of decree holders, with 40.8 percent. Meanwhile, centralized management systems, legal, accounting and advertising services represent 20.7 percent of these firms. Investment banking and other financial services comprise 6.6 percent.

About 85 percent of these companies identify the U.S. mainland as their main export destination, with a smattering identifying the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic and Barbados.

The methodology for the current numbers includes a survey that was sent to all Acts 20 and 22 grantees and data gleaned from those that have filed annual reports.

“This is new money, new investments coming to Puerto Rico,” said José Joaquín Villamil, the CEO of Estudios Técnicos. “Their sales are growing. They are creating jobs. They are buying and renting properties.”

Since 2015, DDEC also has granted 2,202 decrees for Act 22 tax exemptions, with most of these individuals and their families living in San Juan, followed by Dorado, Humacao, Río Grande and Carolina. An estimated 768 Act 22 decree holders have also established businesses in Puerto Rico, mainly in services, creating 4,393 jobs. Of the Act 22 decree holders, the vast majority came from

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the mainland U.S. Most of the Act 22 decree holders are ultra highnet-worth individuals of less than $10 million (81.2 percent). Another 14.5 percent have a net worth of between $10 million to $50 million; 3.9 percent are in the over $50 million club; and 0.4 percent did not specify their net worth.

“We want data. We want numbers and this study provides that,” Laboy said, while acknowledging that there has been an issue with monitoring and ensuring that decree holders are complying with the law. In that sense, he vowed that the agency, as well as the Puerto Rico Treasury Department and the IRS, would work to ensure compliance, such as through audits and the filing of annual reports.

According to the study, only 52 percent of Act 20 companies and 42 percent of Act 22 grantees have submitted their annual reports, as required by law.

Mixed Reactions from Economists

“The numbers in the Estudios Técnicos report sound right and they do show a significant impact of these laws on the local economy. However, the impact is not of the same scale of magnitude as what we used to see in studies of other tax incentives, such as Section 936 and those in the industrial incentives law,” said University of Puerto Rico (UPR) economics professor Juan Lara in an email to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. “My concern with Law 22 is that it could become a target for the U.S. Treasury, as happened with Section 936 and recently with Law 154 [excise tax on foreign corporations]. Some U.S. lawmakers are already asking how much this is costing the U.S. fisc [i.e. the Treasury],” he added.

Fellow UPR economics professor José Caraballo Cueto, sees some flaws in the study. “I believe

the numbers are a little bit exaggerated. The methodology is based on self-reporting from the participants, asking them about the number of jobs created, investments made, etc. This is not the best way to do this because it is difficult to corroborate,” he said to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. A better way, he indicated, would include using documents filed with the IRS, such as the 1040 federal tax form.

Caraballo also disagreed with counting property purchases as “new” economic development. “If you buy a used property for $10 million and renovate it for $1 million, the new economic activity is actually $1 million,” he said, plus whatever new jobs may have been created. Technically, he said, economists would not count the $10 million as new economic activity.

In a series of Tweets, Deepak Lamba-Nieves, research director at the Center for a New Economy, also sounded unconvinced. “I’m amazed with the @DDECPR estimate, because the cockfighting industry alone, according to their own and hard to verify numbers, produces 30,000 jobs. If that’s the case, we have the trappings of an industrial policy: a mix of tax sheltering and fighting cocks,” he said.

“Precision and common sense aside, I was surprised by the recent claim that Laws 20 and 22, which provide preferential tax rates for the ultra-rich and the export of services, create over 36,000 jobs,” he said in a second tweet. “Job creation estimates are hard to produce. In #Puerto Rico, it has become a highly creative exercise,” he said in a third.

When THE WEEKLY JOURNAL pressed for further explanation on his tweets, which his account states are his personal opinions, LambaNieves replied “no comment.”

I believe the numbers are a little bit exaggerated. The methodology is based on selfreporting from the participants, asking them about the number of jobs created, investments made, etc. This is not the best way to do this because it is difficult to corroborate.

- UPR economics professor José Caraballo Cueto

Grantees of Acts 20/22 have created 36,222 jobs, both direct and indirect, across Puerto Rico, according to a study commissioned by DDEC. >Archive

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Did the Real Estate Market Recover?

Although the average asking price in some of the largest cities across Puerto Rico is going up and even surpassing pre-Hurricane Maria levels, property values continue to lag in a few places

A Cynthia López Cabán

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

fter taking a nosedive two years ago, the island’s real estate market seems to show some signs of stability and recovery.

At the end of 2017, Puerto Rico topped the list of countries with the biggest drop in housing prices in one year, according to a quarterly analysis by Global Properties Guide. Despite climbing 3.26 percent in 2016, prices sunk 9.59 percent in the first two quarters of 2017, even before Hurricane Maria pummeled the island.

Now, data gathered by Points2Homes shows that the average asking prices in some of the largest cities across the country are going up and, in some cases, even surpassing pre-hurricane levels. In general, Puerto Rico’s purchase-only house price index climbed 14.01 percent in the second quarter of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. The house price index is a broad measure of the movement of single-family home prices in the United States and Puerto Rico.

For example, Dorado, a northern town 15 miles west from San Juan, experienced a 66 percent increase in asking prices, going from a $190,000 in 2018 to $315,000 this year. However, the housing prices in this municipality known for its upscale neighborhoods with golf courses and beaches are still below the $415,000 peak value of 2016.

In Humacao, another affluent destination on the eastern corner of the island, home prices jumped 39 percent compared to last year. Although prices went from $97,250 to $135,000, they are far below the $250,000 mark established in 2016.

Sources: Points2Homes

Neighboring towns of Aguadilla and Isabela, on the northwest side of the island, experienced home gains of 26 and 23 percent respectively, while home prices in San Juan and Vega Baja surged by 20 percent. Other gains were more modest. Caguas, Fajardo, Bayamón, Carolina and Arecibo, for instance, witnessed increases of less than 10 percent.

Towns like Ponce, Isabela, Mayagüez, Rincón and Guayama surpassed 2016 prices.

The survey, which analyzed data from 20 municipalities, discovered that 15 of those towns experienced home price gains that fluctuated between 66 to 2 percent. In Río Grande, however, the value has remained practically unchanged since last year, clocking in at $125,000 and far below the $226,500 asking tag in 2016.

Cabo Rojo is one of only four cities where properties continued to depreciate, leading the way with a 14 percent drop. The other three towns, Guaynabo, Luquillo and Aguada, saw declines between 5 and 6 percent.

Although the study recognized that Puerto Rico “is still navigating uncharted waters”, amid a decade long economic depression and a bankruptcy-like process to manage its $70 billionplus debt load, it identified some factors driving the increase in demand and the real estate appreciation rate.

“Americans and other foreigners looking for bargains on the island’s favorite tourist spots have pushed up demand, contributing to the recovery in the real estate sector. Coupled with the government’s financial measures, buyer and investor interest in Puerto Rican property managed to make a difference,” explained the Points2Homes survey.

Maria and the Housing Crisis

Last year, Points2Homes evaluated the impact of Hurricane Maria on the real estate sector and noted that the devasting storm aggravated an existing downward trend in home prices on the island, causing the value to drop by 15 percent. At

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the time, properties were worth almost half of their market value eight years prior. As a result, U.S. buyers’ interest in Puerto Rican real estate soared, the study found, with online searches for homes for sale peaking in the aftermath of the storm that caused an estimated $100 billion in damages and over 3,000 deaths.

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College also published the report “The Housing Crisis in Puerto Rico and the Impact of Hurricane Maria”, reaching similar conclusions. The authors, Jennifer Hinojosa and Edwin Meléndez, stated that the effects of the 2006–2016 economic crisis and the impact of Maria further depreciated the housing market causing many families to leave Puerto Rico, stay in their damaged homes, or move in with other family members.

According to the authors, Puerto Rico lost about 45,880 households but added 115,197 net housing units from 2005 to 2016. The difference between the increase in housing supply and the decrease in demand caused the median home value to decline across the island by at least 10 percent since 2005. The median household income also dropped 5 percent, from $21,458 in 2005 to $20,078, further aggravating the potential demand for housing.

“We believe it is possible to implement a housing program in which vacant units are converted into

affordable housing to accommodate the families that lost their homes, and to mitigate the endemic challenge of widespread informal housing not built to code. The expected flow of federal assistance to

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reconstruct the island offers a unique opportunity to transfer vacant housing units to social purpose utilization,” indicated Hinojosa and Meléndez in the report’s introduction.

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Replacing the Foreign Corporations and Partnerships Tax The pharmaceutical industry in Puerto Rico comments on the tax on foreign corporations

P Christian G. Ramos

cramos@elvocero.com

@cramossegarra

uerto Rico is currently home to the largest density per square mile and per capita concentration of pharmaceutical companies in the world, and, as such, the government derives one fifth of

its income from this sector; an influx of capital the General Fund’s intake, which usually takes that could be greatly in around $9 billion affected shall the tax annually. However, credit the companies since 2017, this receive be removed credit has not been as a result of the compatible with reform of Excise Tax federal dispositions Act 154- 2010. enacted for companies Act 154-2010, who operate outside imposed a sales of the United States. tax on products of Wendy Perry, foreign companies general manager of produced in Puerto Merck in Puerto Rico - Jose Viera, Allergan’s regional director Rico but, in turn, and president of granted them a 100 the Pharmaceutical percent federal tax Industry Association, credit. This tax generated around $2 billion told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that changes to annually, representing around 22 percent of the incentives code could harm the economic

We want to keep contributing to Puerto Rico’s economy but we must be part of the equation. The tax can harm the market’s stability.

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stability that the pharmaceutical industry had enjoyed since 2010.

“These kinds of changes can certainly affect our operations. We have been pleading our case to the governor and the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) in an effort to maintain this favorable economic climate, and find an appropriate replacement for the federal credit,” said Perry.

“Our industry produces 33 percent of Puerto Rico’s G.D.P. Our contribution is about much more than the taxes, it’s also about the jobs we create. We currently create 18,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect ones, while providing an average salary of $62,000. We need to find a middle ground,” she added.

Perry went on to say that this is not the first time that the pharmaceutical industry has been affected, citing the removal of Section 936, which prompted many companies to leave Puerto Rico. This statute used to allow local subsidiaries in Puerto Rico to remit their earnings at any time without paying federal taxes on their income.

“Whilst the removal of Section 936 caused many companies to leave the island, we have been enjoying a period of relative stability since 2010. It’s been a great accomplishment to have been able to retain companies during such a

hard time, we must keep this up,” said Perry.

Jose Viera, Allergan’s regional director, doesn’t doubt that changing the current incentives will result in various pharmaceutical companies leaving.

“We want to keep contributing to Puerto Rico’s economy but we must be part of the equation.

The tax can harm the market’s stability.

Pharmaceutical companies have other markets they can move to,” he said.

“The pharmaceutical industry must be part of the solution”

Manuel Laboy, DDEC secretary, told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that “the pharmaceutical industry is vital for the island and that supporting it is part of the current economic development plan.”

He went on to say that the government is still analyzing and discussing how to structure a new tax which doesn’t harm the taxpayer. “[Act 154-2010] has always worried the government and the pharmaceutical sector because it was never meant to be permanent.

The Department of the Treasury has been reminding us of that but we have to work with the industry. Whatever change we enact has to protect the monies collected while also being viable for the sector,” said Laboy.

The federal government has yet to advise the date by which Puerto Rico must make the necessary changes to the tax.

“Puerto Rico is aware that the Department of the Treasury finds this situation unsustainable,” said Laboy, who went on to say that the governor has already been presented with alternate options.

A Need for Stability

Perry went on to say that the pharmaceutical industry invests close to $5 billion annually into the island, and that in order for them to keep this up they need political stability.

“We do want to point out that the government works hand in hand with the pharmaceutical industry, and that this is very important to us because it helps maintain stability so that we can continue with our enterprise and our investments. Other companies have their sights set on Puerto Rico and that gives us confidence,” she said.

“We have to let corporate know that it is safe to do business in Puerto Rico. It all comes down to consistency and responsibility. Instability is brought on when there is no clear direction as far as what will happen with the tax and the incentives provided to companies,” stated Perry.

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Rethinking Puerto Rico’s Recycling Culture Effective policy needed to encourage eco-consciousness and avoid cross-contamination when recyling

A Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

s global policies shift toward recycling and implementing environmentally oriented measures to deter the progress of climate change, Puerto Rico is lagging behind some developed countries in terms of effective legislation and proper education on adequate waste disposal and responsible consumerism, experts said.

Sources assert that a thorough education system is needed to educate the population and the government on Many of the items destined for recycling actually effective waste disposal. >File photos wind up in the island’s landfills and waters, must have a recycling plan. programs, but the industry now requires the typically due to cross-contamination or because “The division’s personnel performs the due population to wash these items thoroughly and to they don’t meet industry standards. In fact, only inspections in the municipalities with regard to this remove their labels and caps before disposing of about 10 percent of the waste generated in Puerto issue of their recycling plans and the municipal them for recycling. This—along with not separating Rico is recycled, according to government figures. community deposit center, known as drop-offs. plastics, glass, paper and cardboard from one María A. Coronado, geologist and general Based on these visits or inspections, and taking another—leads to cross-contamination, also interim manager at the Department of Natural into account the data presented in the quarterly known as aspirational recycling, in which these and Environmental Resources (DNER), explained in reports, the municipal compliance is determined,” materials are rejected and sent to landfills. an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that the she said.

The international scientific community is agency doesn’t have Coronado asserted pleading for immediate action from companies a precise number on that all municipalities and consumers to transition from plastic products how many of these have a plan, but some to more “eco-friendly” items. However, Gian items are disposed of them don’t comply OFerrall, managing partner at G & P Global Corp., incorrectly because the with the requirement affirmed that the solution is not simple due to specific requirements of standing before the differences between biodegradable and for recycling have the DNER’s quarterly compostable materials. changed locally and recycling reports.

“When we talk about biodegradable products, internationally.

Regarding market these are products that are manufactured under “The [DNER’s] demands, the official certain standards and additives are included in Recycling Division… informed that the the product. What it does is that when the product is in the process recyclable materials comes into contact with bacteria or a molecule, the of revising the -María Coronado, with the greatest very product is consumed and that molecule eats data to determine eologist and general interim manager demand are Plastics away the molecules that comprise the product,” the percentage of of DNER 1 and 2. Plastic explained OFerrall, whose company is dedicated discarded material and 1, polyethylene to importing and exporting disposable and verifying the current terephthalate, biodegradable items. situation, especially the change that happened comprises the vast majority of disposable Meanwhile, he explained that compostable items prior to hurricanes Irma and Maria [in 2017],” containers and bottles, while Plastic 2, a highundergo a similar manufacturing process, but they Coronado stated. density polyethylene, is the main component of require an environment where these are recycled Coronado pointed to the Puerto Rico Solid many other common items and containers. with other products that fall under the same Waste Reduction and Recycling Act of 1992, whose Both of these are picked up by most recycling concept. Plastic, cardboard, and other materials can provisions state that all entities and municipalities

A [recycling] course should be included in the school curriculum so that we can change the culture and idiosyncrasies of the young generations...

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Recycling Tips Separate plastics, cardboard, glass and paper from each other Remove labels and caps from products before recycling Wash all containers to avoid crosscontamination Opt for biodegradable products

Federal Funds to Tackle Solid Waste Dilemma

Reassessing behavioral patterns is pivotal to ensuring a healthy recycling culture on the island.

be biodegradable, whereas compostable items are generally a type of cardboard and require a more careful disposal method.

Moreover, OFerrall observed that the process of manufacturing compostable products would entail a greater consumption of petroleum, a highly toxic fossil fuel, as well as more deforestation, which is detrimental to the planet’s ecosystems.

Puerto Rico in Need of Cultural Changes to Assess Issue

Both Coronado and OFerrall concurred that a key step to reducing this pollution is to enact a cohesive plan in the public education system and to adopt cultural and behavioral changes focused on short- and long-term recycling.

During the Alejandro García Padilla administration (2012-2016), the government approved a law to ban plastic bags in supermarkets. Most recently, there have been discussions worldwide about banning plastic straws and other particulars. According to OFerrall, these methods are ineffective because, in the case of the plastic bag ban, stores simply opted to sell bags made of a different plastic that— although biodegradable—ultimately produces the same waste problem but at a higher cost to consumers.

When asked to offer his view on likeminded measures, OFerrall denounced that under these concepts “we are generating the same garbage, but now we will have more expensive trash than the kind we have now.”

Thus, he affirmed that there is an urgent need to educate the population on different types of products and recycling processes, as well as to foster an eco-conscious mindset to avoid littering.

“The first thing we need to do in Puerto Rico is to create a good recycling program where people are educated, just like they used to do in previous years,” he said.

For her part, Coronado noted that her

department’s Recycling Division conducts educational duties in municipal communities and in collaboration with private and public entities, but this needs to be accompanied by a long-term educational campaign that will target children and youth directly from within the classrooms.

“A [recycling] course should be included in the school curriculum so that we can change the culture and idiosyncrasies of the young generations that are beginning their learning cycle.

This is the way that many countries have managed to change the mentality toward recycling, such as Costa Rica and European countries. There has to be a multi-sectoral campaign combining the educational curriculum and advertising in the media to increase and develop environmental awareness,” she stated.

According to Coronado, the DNER recently received approval for the first phase of a supplementary economic disaster grant awarded by the U.S. Congress and administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The first and second phases of this program include, as one of its main components, education toward recycling, to be granted to both private citizens and municipal governments. The program will be focused on providing advice and education on how to handle solid waste in Puerto Rico in an integrated way.

“Part of the documentation of phase 1 includes the development of the Puerto Rico Solid Waste Characterization Study, which is practically an analysis made of samples of the garbage that is deposited in landfills or in other disposal systems. The other document is the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan… that will establish and fix Puerto Rico’s public policy on solid waste management,” the official said.

Through the federal measure, $10 million were assigned to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and $40 million to Puerto Rico. “The USVI has already begun its study of waste characterization in sanitary landfill systems and they are already well advanced in that regard,” she said.

All municipalities must have an active recycling plan, but some do not meet certain requirements.

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Doing Business in the Aftermath of a Disaster

natural disasters of unprecedented proportions.

“Once you are registered in the System for Hackman has made it her mission to share these Award Management (SAM) and the Dynamic Small tools with communities, including Puerto Rico.

Business Search (DSBS), you are visible to the federal The panel “Doing Business in the Aftermath government in case of an emergency,” she said. of a Disaster” was held at the CIAPR (Colegio de No matter what your company’s services are, Ingenieros y Agrimensores de Puerto Rico) as being registered in these programs is important part of a two-day tour due to the business around the island, continuity they may offering workshops provide immediately free of charge on after a natural disaster preparedness disaster, allowing for resiliency. your operations to Speaking on the continue and securing Claudia Guerrero Negrón @cguerreronegron cguerrero@wjournalpr.com issue were Daneris employments. Visiting -Germán Hernández Garcés, attorney advisor Fernández, Puerto Rico the FCC to learn about for the Small Business Administration nowing your risks, identifying Business Emergency the different services and protecting vital records (SBA) Office of Disaster Assistance Operations Center they offer and getting and creating a business (PR-BEOC) coordinator; registered takes no continuity plan are some of the Yasmin Garcíamore than an hour, key steps to take as a business Martínez, economist and procurement specialist according to García-Martínez. owner when preparing for of the Federal Contractor Center (FCC); Germán Hurricane Maria taught many lessons. Among a disaster, according to Hernández Garcés, attorney advisor for the Small them, the need of gathering relevant information Leann Hackman, CEO of Economic Developers Business Administration (SBA) Office of Disaster for the use of business owners is imperative when Alberta and author of the “Master Your Disaster” Assistance; and Nelson Vázquez, chairman of the executing a successful disaster recovery plan. For guidebook series. board of Selectos Supermarkets. The event was that reason, Fernández made it a point to involve After her experience working in the economic moderated by Hackman. the private sector in emergency recovery operations, recovery efforts in Fort McMurray, Canada Being registered in the federal government leading the efforts to create the PR-BEOC. after the 2016 wildfire, Hackman wrote a series registry is one of, if not the most important Fernández stated how this entity has been designed to help individuals, businesses of all precautions to be taken when preparing for a preparing and collaborating with the local sizes and communities prepare for and respond to disaster, according to García-Martínez. government to provide the most detailed information possible.

“There are several documents that have been developed by the local government and the BEOC, like the Government Plan for Disaster Management, a public document where you can see how that pre-planning and preparation is being done because they have schedules that specify who is activated at 24 hours, 72 hours of the emergency,” said Fernández.

Published by the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau, the document lists all services and capabilities needed in the hours after a disaster occurs. Being a member of the PR-BEOC and having access to these documents is key to understanding where your business plays a role within the disaster response and recovery phases.

These preparations must be done throughout the entire year, not just when a natural phenomenon hits, and redone every year, according to Hernández.

“If you do all of these things once the disaster Speaking on the issue, from left ro right, were Daneris Fernández, Puerto Rico Business Emergency Operations hits, you are too late,” said Hernández.

Center (PR-BEOC) coordinator; Yasmin García-Martínez, economist and procurement specialist of the Federal For more information on how you can get your Contractor Center (FCC); Germán Hernández Garcés, attorney advisor for the Small Business Administration business prepared for a natural emergency, please (SBA) Office of Disaster Assistance; and Nelson Vázquez, chairman of the board of Selectos Supermarkets. visit prsciencetrust.org. >Claudia Guerrero

Leaders spoke on the necessary precautions that business owners must take when preparing for a disaster as part of a disaster recovery and resiliency workshop

K

If you do all of these things once the disaster hits, you are too late.

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It's your moment to shine.

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/ Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Innovation Pays Off for Local N Businesses

The Department of Economic Development recognized the work of a new crop of businesses breaking ground in the economy, security, education and tech sectors Cynthia López Cabán

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

ine local enterprises joined the third class of “Pymes Innovadoras” (Innovative SMEs), a government program that supports small and mediumsized businesses looking for new markets at which to commercialize and export their products.

In this round, the program sponsored by the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC, by its Spanish acronym), awarded a total of $410,000 in incentives to companies breaking new ground in the economy,

security, education and tech sectors.

“With this last group, almost thirty companies have benefited from the Special Economic Development Fund. We’ve allocated close to $1.8 million to help sustain business growth and development,” said Manuel A. Laboy Rivera, secretary of the Department of Economic Development, when announcing the winners.

A Puerto Rico-based security company, Zomio Inc., received a subvention to continue its marketing and research endeavors in the smart technology field. The winner of the EnterPRize 2018 developed ARK, a smart sensor that detects the presence of a person, child or pet inside an automobile in an effort to avoid leaving a child or an unattended passenger in the back seat. This technology monitors temperature, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) gases to prevent dangerous conditions inside the vehicle.

The application also gathers additional data to identify a life-threatening situation and, in case of an emergency, will contact parents and caregivers.

Zomio is also developing technology for

/ Wednesday, November 20, 2019

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Contrary to old solar heaters, the Sunne Heater is a one-piece lightweight and ultramodern solar water heater that can be installed on almost every rooftop. >Courtesy Sunne Heater

the in-home monitoring of seniors and infants. a platform for the management of occupational At the same time, it’s venturing into the field health and safety information of contractors, and of artificial intelligence to improve its line of Piloto 151 round up the companies building native products. computer software or applications Another winner, YCS PR-Software that are ready to move to the next created a platform to expedite the frontier. pesky credit card reconciliation While Piloto 151 is known process in the restaurant industry. as Puerto Rico’s first Incorporated in 2011, YCS PR coworking space, on this Corp. is a software development occasion the business company that provides a wide is being recognized range of solutions to the food for its technological industry in Puerto Rico and the innovation. They created Caribbean, including software a correspondence app maintenance and support. that can track packages, The Global Education Exchange among other features, Opportunities Mech and a platform for PR-DMA, devised counseling services. an application that Aside from these identifies students initiatives, just last who excel at week, Piloto 151 mathematics in order announced the to encourage them to opening of a fourth pursue college careers location and its second in engineering, science space in the heart of and technology. Intex Santurce. With this Software, on the other fourth location, the hand, conceived a largest coworking solution that integrates space on the island messaging, searches will add an additional - Manuel A. Laboy and online sales to 15,000 square feet Rivera, secretary of the Department facilitate the consumer to its footprint for a of Economic Development experience, while total of approximately OdFlex adopted an 50,000 square feet of Uber-like network that managed commercial connects companies and drivers with hopes of real estate between its locations in Old San Juan, solving logistics and transportation problems.

Milla de Oro and Santurce.

The local food delivery app Uva!, Safety Linked, The last winner is Sunne Labs Corporation,

With this last group, almost thirty companies have benefited from the Special Economic Development Fund. We’ve allocated close to $1.8 million to help sustain business growth and development.

Ishmael Lebrón developed ARK, a smart sensor that detects the presence of a person, child or pet inside an automobile in an effort to avoid leaving a child or an unattended passenger in the back seat. >Courtesy Zomio

which will use the grant money to keep developing the formula for its solar water heater and other energy-saving technologies. Contrary to old solar heaters, the Sunne Heater is a one-piece lightweight and ultramodern solar water heater that can be installed on almost every rooftop.

After announcing the grantees, Laboy added that a new call for proposals from entrepreneurs interested in participating in the program will be opened in 2020. To qualify, companies must have gross sales of less than $3,000,000 and pursue innovative ideas and concepts that combine science and technology. The program offers winning entrepreneurs up to $100,000 in incentives to help them set off business growth plans, as well as market and export their products.

Prior winners include the Better Ideas LLC platform; the producer of eco-friendly detergent, Cleancult LLC; the manufacturer of magnesium diboride superconducting wire for MRI machines, Cutting Edge Superconductors; public transport app, Guawa; the producer of pharmaceutical sampling equipment, IBS Caribe Inc.; the pharmaceutical company that develops molecules to shrink tumors, MBQ Pharma; the corporation that develops a chemical-free water and air treatment system, NTS PR, LLC. On the island, small and medium-sized enterprises account for 95 percent of the businesses and add 13 percent to the overall gross domestic product (GDP).

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/ Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Puerto Rico Live Seeks to Inspire Local Community to Rethink Island’s Potential

Influential figures from multiple sectors discuss how to overcome Puerto Rico’s greatest challenges

N Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

ext year, Puerto Rico will welcome a series of influential figures in the public and private sector in a bid to showcase and enhance Puerto Rico’s offer to the global community.

Puerto Rico Live is a new, privately-established platform that will host several discussion forums and think-tanks to educate residents and visitors on the island’s many opportunities and solutions to its historic challenges, as well as others to come.

This initiative will kick off its inaugural season with a conversation with David Begnaud, lead national correspondent for CBS This Morning.

Begnaud has been deeply involved with Puerto Rico ever since he was assigned to cover the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which devastated virtually every segment of the island— geographically and economically—on Sept. 2017.

Since then, the American journalist has been continuously invested in local issues and has covered other large-scale stories, such as last summer’s protests against the Ricardo Rosselló administration.

In that first conversation with Begnaud, he will discuss personal details that were impacted his childhood, what it means to live his truth and what captivated him about Puerto Rico and its people.

The forum will be moderated by renowned Puerto Rican meteorologist Ada Monzón, who became an important figure in the wake of the category-4 storm. “It will be a privilege to converse with [David Begnaud],” Monzón stated in her Twitter account.

This conversation will be held at the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in Santurce on Jan. 23, 2020.

The next conversation will be held on Feb.

13 with former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice. The former official will discuss some of the most complex developments that have affected the continental U.S. over the last 30 years, as well as personal lessons she endured while balancing motherhood and political endeavors at the highest levels of government.

On March 12, Puerto Rico Live will host the former head of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Jeffrey DeLaurentis and Ben Rhodes. Both these men served as the two architects of then-President Barack Obama’s opening with Cuba. They will comment on the negotiations and breakthroughs in U.S.-Cuban relations in a conversation with Mari Carmen Aponte, Puerto Rico’s first female ambassador. This, and the preceding conversation, will be held at the Raúl Juliá Theater in the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico (MAPR) in San Juan.

This first season of forums will close on March 20 with a conversation on global trade and the new book “Trade is Not a Four-Letter Word” with former Chairman of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, Fred P. Hochberg. The location of this discussion forum has not been announced, but an update will be provided on www.prliveevents.com.

Although each of these events is scheduled to have at least one moderator, the organization mentioned that attendees would be able to pose their own questions to the guests on stage.

Puerto Rico Live is a private entity dedicated to hosting on-stage discussions with influential names in media, business, culture and artistic sectors to foster an exchange of ideas that will lead to the island’s long-term prosperity and vitality.

Erin Pelton, co-founder of this platform, affirmed that “everyone deserves access to new ideas.” This intellectual exchange, she said, is vital to ensuring that Puerto Rico recovers from its socioeconomic burdens, while providing the tools necessary to thrive in different sectors.

“Puerto Rico Live invites all audiences - students, professionals, civic leaders, retirees - to embrace curiosity and join us for these important conversations,” she stated.

Her husband and Puerto Rico Live co-founder, Miguel Estein, said that the platform, which is non-partisan and non-political, “seeks to integrate

Susan Rice served on President Barack Obama’s Cabinet as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as a national security adviser. >Photos Courtesy PR Live

David Begnaud is the lead national correspondent for “CBS This Morning”, based in New York.

Puerto Rico into this circuit of idea exchange by hosting the leaders shaping today’s world. In the process, our guest speakers will walk away with a better understanding of Puerto Rico, our hopes and aspirations. This is a win-win.”

Tickets start at $12 and are available on www. ticketapr.com. According to the organizers, a portion of proceeds will be donated to various charities with missions that are relevant to the topics discussed in each event.

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>Brandon Cruz González

/ Wednesday, November 20, 2019

FOMB: Education Department Not Meeting Its Mandate

Cites various problems that go back years

A Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

s Yogi Berra, the immortalized baseball player, would have said, “it’s déjà vu all over again” during a recent public hearing on the current state of Puerto Rico’s Department of Education.

Budget management woes in handling an estimated $4 billion budget in federal and commonwealth funds. Low academic achievement by students. Problems with school infrastructure.

If one were to look at newspaper archives from 20 years ago, these issues would top the list of the education department’s woes even then.

Fast forward to today and it seems very little has changed at the agency.

Due to changing demographics leading to fewer children in Puerto Rico, the department has been forced to close 34 percent of its schools, going from 1,295 to 857 at the last count. Education’s fiscal plan, as certified by the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) requires that the agency also cut administrative costs by 34 percent.

However, during the FOMB hearing, the Oversight Board’s Executive Director Natalie Jaresko pointed out that there has not been a corresponding decrease in administrative costs.

Based on the financial numbers that the agency also hiring personnel for its internal audit office in submitted, there has been a 14 percent decrease order to help with the agency’s management. in administrative costs, she The federal funds were frozen pointed out. due to concerns about the Secretary of Education Eligio agency’s fiscal management and Hernández said the issue corruption allegations, including could be one of definition, as the arrest of former Secretary Department of administrative staff often perform of Education Julia Keleher Education Highlights teaching duties, as is the case on charges that she steered with special education staff. millions of dollars in federal Student enrollment of 292,518 students “I am talking about strictly fund contracts to “unqualified 25,200 teachers administrative staff, janitors, and politically connected 1,116 social workers school cafeteria workers,” organizations.” Keleher has 857 schools Jaresko replied. “When the pleaded not guilty and is islandwide savings are not coming from awaiting trial in May 2020.

Closure of 438 administration, you are forcing Other issues that came schools has achieved yourself to cut from teachers and out during the hearing were $47 million in savings students. This is about priorities.” that the majority of public - Based on testimony FOMB members were also school students failed to pass from Secretary of Education Eligio surprised that Education does proficiency exams in Spanish, Hernández not have a specific financial math, English and science. department to oversee the Results from the 2018-2019 proper administration of funds. academic year show that 45.1 “You would never imagine that a percent of students were company, a private company that earns $4 billion “proficient” in Spanish, their native language; in revenue, would not have a finance department followed by 30.1 percent in math, 38.9 percent in to figure out why it took more than two years to English and 47.1 percent in science. shut off the electricity in a school,” Jaresko said.

Meanwhile, more than two years after To that end, it was pointed out that the federal Hurricane Maria devastated the island, 22 schools government has frozen $680 million in funds until remain closed because of the damage sustained. a “third-party fiduciary agent” has been identified.

Education officials told the Oversight Board Education has requested proposals and the that they were still waiting for FEMA (Federal winning firm should be announced in February Emergency Management Agency) funds to repair 2020, Hernández said. He added that the agency is these schools.

In fact...

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/ Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Census 2020 Campaign Underway in Puerto Rico Residents urged to participate and help “shape their future”

T Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

he campaign for residents to participate in the upcoming Census 2020 has officially kicked off in Puerto Rico, with local and federal officials emphasizing the importance of the data for the island’s Hurricane Maria

recovery efforts.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census of the population be conducted every 10 years.

Census Bureau population statistics inform how billions of dollars in federal funds—about $675 billion each year—are allocated for critical public services like hospitals and healthcare clinics, emergency response, schools and education and roads and bridges. In the mainland U.S., the 2020 Census will also guide the drawing of local political boundaries.

“The 2020 Census is on track, and we are confident that operations and outreach efforts will reach all communities, including every person living in Puerto Rico on April 1, 2020,” said Jeff T. Behler, regional director for the U.S. Census Bureau. “We are working closely with the local government, the business community, civic organizations, nonprofits and the faith community to accomplish our goal of counting everyone, including young children and babies,” he said to reporters in San Juan.

According to the 2020 Census Barriers, Attitudes and Motivations Survey, Puerto Rico presents

The U.S. Census Bureau is urging residents in Puerto Rico to participate in the upcoming 2020 Census. >Courtesy U.S. Census Bureau

several unique challenges, especially since the passing of Hurricane Maria on Sept. 2017. The study revealed that few people in Puerto Rico have knowledge of the census, why it is important, who gets counted and how to participate, Behler indicated.

The survey found that besides showing a lack of interest and trust in government, Puerto Ricans are also concerned about issues of privacy and confidentiality. “We are working hard to make sure everyone understands that Census responses are confidential and protected by law,” explained Sara Rosario Nieves, chief of strategic planning at the Decennial Communications and Coordination Office.

Population: 3.195 million (2018) “We do not share your information with law Households with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.9 percent enforcement agencies or immigration officials.”

Working in civilian labor force: 44.5 percent New procedures are in place for the Median household income: $19,775 a year island to help ensure a high response rate.

Median value of owner-occupied units: $115,300 Officials said higher selfresponse rates increase

Census Snapshot of Puerto Rico

the accuracy of the census and save taxpayer money by lowering census follow-up costs for nonresponding households.

“We are implementing a special approach to the census in Puerto Rico given the large number of households displaced by Hurricane Maria,” explained Arnaldo Sosa, assistant regional census manager. “Instead of mailing questionnaires to every household, a census taker will visit every residence, confirm it is occupied and leave a questionnaire package. People can then respond online, return the questionnaire by mail, or call a toll-free number and speak to an English- or Spanish-language census operator.”

This will be a huge operation for Puerto Rico, as census workers will visit every “household unit” in all municipalities, including gated communities, condos, buildings, public housing projects and neighborhoods in every part of the island.

Behler said the Census is hiring thousands of workers in Puerto Rico for this effort, as he stressed the importance of hiring census workers to work in the communities in which they live, particularly since the vernacular in Puerto Rico is Spanish.

Those interested in applying for Census positions can log on to census2020.gov/jobs. The applications are available in English and Spanish.

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Rafael “Tatito” Hernández

By Anthony Maceira

Breaking Chains

D’ Opportunity to Build a Better Puerto Rico

Former Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority

House of Representatives Minority Leader

B

lame is defined as holding others responsible for our misfortunes.

Even when someone clearly and definitely does something wrong, there is no willingness to accept responsibility; the blame is deflected elsewhere.

It is attributed to others so you will never know who caused the outcome. It is always easier to blame someone than to accept responsibility. However, the more you play the blame game, the more you lose. That is how we all feel with this document called the Fiscal Plan for Puerto Rico.

In every tax measure contained in the Plan, you see the government blaming the Board and the Board blaming the government. The blame game at its best. The easy way out for the government is to blame the Board because they do not have to pay the political cost of imposing new taxes.

This has been the MO in the past years under Ricardo Rosselló. Much to our disappointment, we can affirm that the government of Wanda Vázquez Garced is a mere continuation of that same policy. No protection for the municipalities or for the University of Puerto Rico has been proposed by her government to avoid the devastation that the implementation of the Fiscal Plan will have on these two entities.

No measures were taken to defend the retirement payments to our public employees or to avoid unprecedented increases in the cost of electricity.

When the credibility of our government is at its lowest, we continue to learn, day after day, about more corruption at all levels of government with public

figures resigning because of investigations by federal agencies and the disproportionate hiring or contracting of “talented” relatives of members of the executive and legislative branches.

This is the time to emphasize on differences, to clearly compare and contrast the old with the new. Take corrective actions to stop once and for all bad practices of contracting and appointing friends to positions in government; carry out to the end all judicial and legislative investigations. Corruption charges cannot be dismissed simply because the public official resigned.

The Popular Democratic Party had to take many difficult decisions to face the economic crises we confronted. We did not have a Board to blame for everything bad that happened.

We stepped up to the plate and assumed the responsibility. No blame game to play. Always respecting the separation of powers and protecting the welfare of our people, even when confronting our own leadership. In the end, time proved us right.

Puerto Rico deserves much more. It deserves that the interests of our political leaders be focused on the needs of the people. It deserves transparency and accountability. It deserves new and better opportunities to obtain a better quality of life for all – better education, security, affordable housing and the creation of jobs.

Changes are achieved by breaking the chains, breaking out from the straightjacket that caused the debacle. In the meantime, we will continue to work hard to insure a clean and transparent public administration to regain our credibility. This is our commitment.

T

he 2019 Report Card for Puerto Rico’s Infrastructure, prepared by the American Society of Civil Engineers, includes grades for eight categories with an overall GPA of D-. The grades are: bridges (D+), dams (D+), waste water (D+), drinking water (D), ports (D), solid waste (D-), roads (D-) and energy (F).

In conclusion, according the Report Card, Puerto Rico’s infrastructure is weak and at risk.

Although apparently some were surprised, the content of the Report Card is no secret. Puerto Rico’s infrastructure is weak, lacking proper maintenance and yes, was devastated by the blow of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

However, the ASCE also states the good news that there are solutions to these challenges and that’s precisely what this short piece looks to discuss as D’ Opportunity to build a better Puerto Rico that supports growth and competitiveness.

I believe that we have the chance to do what’s been needed for decades, if we appropriately manage the recovery funds destined to Puerto Rico and facilitate private investment.

Investors don’t need political favors, they need policies that are favorable for business, stability and the political will to do what needs to be done.

Some solutions, such as those for solid waste, drinking water, ports, and energy, are already at an advanced stage on their road to completion. Government simply should remove any roadblocks that might arise on the way. Let’s look at some examples: Solid waste (D-): Puerto Rico has 29 solid waste facilities currently in operation. Of these, only 11 are compliant with federal standards.

This means that 18 landfills currently pose risks to the environment and public health. Closing down noncompliant landfills is one of D’ opportunities that we should seize.

Following through with the adequate closure of non-compliant landfills, utilizing private capacity and available federal funds is D’ Opportunity to address the impact of landfills on natural resources (including soil, air, and water quality) and therefore public health.

Ports (D): Puerto Rico’s ports infrastructure is fragile. ASCE estimates the cost to repair ports throughout the island at close to $750 million. Before resigning as executive director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, I left in place certain initiatives that would allow hundreds of millions in private investment, such as a P3 concession for San Juan Bay’s Cruise Terminals, and an RFP for a MegaYacht Marina, which in combination with publicly funded initiatives would reach that amount. Privatization and proper management of recovery funds is D’ Opportunity to have better and stronger ports.

Drinking Water (D): The ASCE notes that PRASA has improved its nonrevenue water loss rate and, while water quality continues to improve as new processes are implemented, hurricanes aggravated an already difficult fiscal and operational situation for our water management.

Closing the P3 concession in PRASA and the continuation of adequate management of recovery funds, is D’ Opportunity to have a more resilient water system for our people.

The wheel has been invented and this is not managing the stock market. Puerto Rico can build better infrastructure and support economic growth. Adequate management, policies that favor business, clear priorities, and the political will to do what must be done, are some of the ingredients needed to turn our failing grades into great opportunities. Puerto Rico has the opportunity to have world class ports, closing noncompliant landfills, adequate roads, energy grid, water management and bridges.

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New Exhibition at the MAC Explores the Diversity of

Desire

By juxtaposing traditional notions of womanhood with non-conforming sexualities and gender identities, “Anarchy and Dialectic in Desire” reenvisions the canon and refutes enduring social myths about the body and gender

T Cynthia López Cabán

The exhibition “Anarchy and Dialectic in Desire: Gender and Marginality in Puerto Rico” opened last week at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santurce.

clopez@wjournalpr.com

@cynthia_lope

he air smells woodsy inside the main gallery of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC by its Spanish acronym) in Santurce.

It isn’t a musty whiff or the false scent of air freshener, but the earthy fragrance of raw wood or perhaps, the tang of newness.

It’s a tarty sweetness that evokes the aroma of carved wood and handwork. Except, nobody is holding a chisel.

The alluring scent, it turns out, stems from the salon’s hardwood flooring, from the wood that serves as an unexpected metaphor for the curatorial work behind “Anarchy and Dialectic in Desire: Gender and Marginality in Puerto Rico” (Anarquía y dialéctica en el deseo: géneros y marginalidad en Puerto Rico), a provocative tribute to Puerto Rican women artists and a project of “historical justice,” according to Marianne Ramírez Aponte, MAC’s executive director.

The exhibition also celebrates resistance as it memorializes the work of women who, despite the limitations imposed by sexism, racism, classism and colonialism, dared to create and (re)create the

boundaries of art and the world itself.

Working as a sculptor of sorts, artist and curator Raquel Torres Arzola painstakingly chiseled an exhibition that weaves the work of over 120 artists -from different mediums and time periods- to reemerge as another composition with its own uncanny kind of life.

“My intention is to start a conversation among these art pieces and encourage a debate of ideas in and out of these walls. But I also want these discourses to crash. I’m interested in that collision and exchange of viewpoints,” Torres explained during a tour of the exhibition.

“I wanted to visibilize the fact that we are all different... In my research, I came across these discussions of whether or not feminism was still valid, important or relevant. But with this work I didn’t want to assume a position or give greater value to one position over the other. I wanted to gather those discussions and ‘hear’ them talk.”

The opening display, a combination of poetry and painting, delivers the artistic tension that resonates across the installation and lays the ground for the discussions of embodiment, sexuality and difference.

Alone, on the entry wall, “zero title,” a short poem by Frieda Medín, welcomes visitors. Known as a premier experimental photographer, on this occasion the artist submitted 10 words typed in lowercase on a sheet of white paper. “i am not here. it’s over. it doesn’t exist. they stole it. thank you.” (no estoy aquí. ya pasó. no existe. lo robaron. gracias.)

While Medín denounces the invisibility of women, the other pieces explore the social and cultural norms that regulate the feminized body (cuerpa in Spanish), a term Torres adopts to embrace the multiple interpretations of a woman’s body.

From the controlled femininity depicted in “Portrait of a Lady” by María Luisa Penne del Castillo, to the rumination on sexual violence in the “Rotating Barbed Dildo” by Bárbara Díaz Tapia, and the image of the male naked body in “The Green in the Room” by Myrna Báez, the first sequence of paintings opposes the stereotype of the docile

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Desire is the only thing that unites us; the desire for action, the desire for creation, the aesthetic desire, the desire to become visible, the desire to speak. It’s the only thing that unites them (artists).

-Raquel Torres Arzola, artist and curator

woman with the strong woman fighting violence and sexualizing the male body.

“The pieces in this section dialectically demarcate the evolution of the body towards a self-aware feminized body, that sustains, discusses and reaffirms violent or passive negotiations and transgressions in different levels of breaking away from power and domination,” explains the museum tag.

With the same captivating effect, the curator repeats the artifice throughout the installation to produce a show that causes viewers to look

Mickey Negrón’s performance “Jerónimo” >Gabriel López Albarrán

at art anew. By juxtaposing artwork reflecting traditional notions of womanhood with nonconforming sexualities and gender identities, Torres challenges the unexamined assumptions that underpin the artistic canon.

Throughout history, art has privileged the male gaze of the female body, Torres reiterates. “Anarchy and Dialectic in Desire” aims at changing that by showcasing without fuss multiple representations of sexualities, desires and pleasures. Together, these pieces embody a mosaic of identities and stories, from the jovial to the political, and from the erotic to the domestic.

“Desire is the only thing that unites us, the desire for action, the desire for creation, the aesthetic desire, the desire to become visible, the desire to speak. It’s the only thing that unites them (artists),” Torres argues.

The deeply personal and intimate work of artists

A visitor stops to gaze at “Portrait of a Lady”, by María Luisa Penne del Castillo, and “The Green in the Room”, by Myrna Báez. >Gabriel López Albarrán

like Mickey Negrón’s performance “Jerónimo” and C. Carmona Ortiz’s “In Transit”, two insights into non-conforming sexuality; Liliana Rivera’s “Susy”, a drawing that delves on a woman’s body odors after touching herself; or Chaveli Sifre’s “Aura Portrait I and II”, recast the concept of the traditional female body to enter a gender transgressive zone.

Others push the boundaries in unpredicted ways like Melanie Rivera Flores’ sculpture “Kunst”, an unassuming piece placed in the middle of the display room with a vulva carved out in the corner of the stone. Five steps away, Zuania Minier’s installation and video projection “Participatory Liberation: masclu (small macho) IV,” which includes a dangling cluster of ceramic testicles, invites the public to imagine the possibility of breaking the artwork as a metaphor for smashing patriarchy.

The show doesn’t unfold chronologically. On the contrary, it jumps from one period to another, from one medium to the other while crafting its own narrative of change and forging a sense of community. Replicating the diversity of the feminized body, the exhibition incorporates film, video, music, comics, photography, sculpture, performance and an educational program as part of its ambitious agenda.

The exhibition has three acts. The first part, “Dialectic,” opened last Saturday and explores body and identity discourses. It runs until April 2020. “Anarchy,” opens in May 2020 and will focus on the conceptual and experimentation methods of the showcased artists. Thirdly, “Desire” is an ongoing performance program intended to complement the exhibit.

“It’s not so much about who we are by default since we are the result of sociocultural influences.

It’s what we propose to be. There’s a dichotomy where the man is considered the example of reason and the woman is associated with the body. When we speak of ‘Anarchy and Dialectic in Desire,’ we are talking about a transformation of the body and desire as an instrument of liberation. In this sense, it is not about ‘I think and therefore I am’, but rather what I desire, what I do, what I challenge, what I think and what I am,” concluded Torres.

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Women Artists Transform the Streets of Humacao

The urban art festival Humacao Grita has brought new life to the town

T

Crystyan Ortiz Perez

cortiz@wjournalpr.com

he walls and alleys of the “Gray City”, as the locals refer to the municipality, have been covered with a storm of color since 2018 thanks to the new urban restoration project and art festival “Humacao Grita”.

The festival has allowed local and international muralists to participate in the restoration of the town’s urban center by adopting a wall and showing off their talent and passion. For this, their second edition, celebrated on Nov. 17, the organizers decided to break new ground by showcasing only female artists.

The organizer of the event, Mariolga Vázquez Velázquez, stated that the decision to make this year’s event a women-only one was because they wanted to bring attention to the importance of giving women equal platforms as so far as urban art events go.

“Puerto Rico has many women muralists but [whenever there’s a festival] only a few are chosen [to participate] or they don’t get invited at all,” said

Vázquez Velázquez.

The collective painted “Elena”, in their The theme of this year’s festival was interpretation of the engraving style associated “Womanhood”. Vázquez Velázquez explained that with artists Lorenzo Homar and Rafael Tufiño, and every artist had the opportunity based on the character of the to reflect on, and illustrate the famous plena song “Cortaron different aspects of being a a Elena”; which tells the story woman within the 12 murals of a beautiful woman that was created at this year’s edition. violently attacked by a man As an example, the who wanted to court her.

Venezuelan environmental The collective also depicted activist and artist Heidi another plena song, but “Hachemar” Martínez decided illustrated in the pseudo-realist Heidi “Achemar” to display nature’s femininity. In style they are known for. For Martínez her mural, titled “Spawning the this creation, they chose as Paola Carrasquillo Earth”, a mermaid holds various inspiration a song by the allDiane MsBles eggs that resemble the planets, female group Plena Combativa.

Bronik with the earth being the one Titled “Libre y Peligrosa” (Free Colectivo Moriví she holds up close to her chest. and Dangerous), this song about Petra Mercado BouHachemar evokes the themes the danger that women pose to gart Students of fertility and rebirth, hoping the imperialist white supremacist Aracelis Cruz to educate onlookers about the heteropatriarchy, has a chorus Moderfur environmental impact done to that has become the anthem Palmas Academy Art our planet and the importance of of the plight against gender Students climate consciousness. violence that targets women.

Valeria Mendez El Colectivo Moriví was also The mural integrates various Ilia Collazo present. This women collective paintings of women protesting Karena “Kau” Tavera founded in 2013 is known which include anonymous

for its political murals that figures and renowned local integrate cultural elements feminist activists. while discussing social issues Colectivo Moriviví tends to regarding women and colonialism, among other avoid big commercial art festivals, preferring to themes. participate in community driven events. They are

Artists Featured in Humacao Grita 2019

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Moderfur working on her piece, “Mural del Amor”.

very conscious of the messages in their pieces and how they can help contribute to the communities in which they are created.

When asked by THE WEEKLY JOURNAL about why they chose urban art over traditional canvas painting, collective member Sharon González said that by working on murals they live “the meaningful exchange you have when producing public art.”

“In public spaces we get to interact with the community, speak about what we’re doing and why. That’s an exchange that making art for museums doesn’t give you much of,” she said.

Colectivo Moriví shares the event organizer’s belief that urban art is an educational weapon.

“Art should be accessible to all communities, serve as a tool to inspire to action, to analyze why things happen and why it’s important to talk about these themes,” González added.

Another powerful mural featured in the event was created by Diane MsBles. Mixing classic urban typeface graffiti with

Murals by Paola Carrasquillo and Heidi “Achemar” Martínez. >Photos by Crystyan Ortiz Perez

Mural by MsBles >Crystyan Ortiz

contemporary themes, the mural reads: “I am the outcry of the ones that don’t have a voice.”

This piece is a tribute to the women who have been killed by their partners in Puerto Rico throughout 2019. The names of these victims are also featured in the background of the mural in an explosion of vibrant colors which contrast with the quote written in a strong, traditional lettering style.

It’s a very loud mural, as its intent is to highlight the urgency of the issue of gender violence.

Vázquez Velázquez notes that ever since the first edition of “Humacao Grita” there has been a boost of activity in the area. “I have even received phone calls [to my personal phone] from tourists asking for guided tours of the murals.”

Luckily, you don’t need her phone number to visit the murals. If you wish visit Humacao to take in the murals, you can log on to www. humacaogrita.com and access an interactive map that displays the location of the 38 murals along with the name of their respective artists. If a guided experience is of your preference, you can contact the city’s Department of the Arts, Culture and Tourism by calling (787) 285-3550.

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La Marqueta

New Oceanfront Dining in Condado 10 international menus, two bars and an oceanfront view provide a fun, family atmosphere at Condado’s newest food hall.

Claudia Guerrero Negrón

C

cguerrero@wjournalpr.com

@cguerreronegron

ondado has a new spot where you will be taking all your next Instagram posts, celebrating your and your friends’ birthdays and having breakfast, lunch and dinner all year long. Inspired by maritime cargo ships and the ever-evolving marketplace economy that spearheads the world’s trade industries, the food-

truck park-like food hall has a refreshing ambiance “Criollo”, Mexican, seafood, vegan, café and juice with an upscale yet bar. comfortable and The menus feature inviting feel. staples in the respective Marine blue hues, cuisines. Rustic classics calming white and like the Margarita pizza cream accessory star in the Italian menu, pieces, wooden babaganush, spicy tables and the sound chicken curry and gyros of ocean waves on the Mediterranean crashing on the shore menu and shrimp surround you as you avocado salad and devour chef Mauricio calamari tempura on Santelice’s specialty the seafood menu. At creations. The new the Mexican station, space has beautiful the Rústica flour oceanfront views tortilla is prepared that complement a crisp and topped with Fahad Ghaffar, delicious and varied roasted tomatoes, Paulson and Co. partner selection of culinary diced jalapeños, fresh offerings, including cilantro, a Mexican 10 different menus: cheese blend and Mediterranean, Italian, Asian, Puerto Rican pesto. Mexico’s take on pizza.

Vegan options are featured on all the menus, but there’s also an entire menu dedicated to the lifestyle diet, featuring items like roasted sweet potatoes with sautéed garlic and spicy pepitas, veggie sandwiches, black bean burgers and stuffed corn “arepas” with roasted eggplant, mixed greens and basil oil.

The Asian menu features Thai, Japanese and Chinese selections to complete the world food tour. Sushi rolls like spicy tuna and California are on there, as well as poke bowls, fried rice with the choice of chicken, pork or veggies and Thai fish, steamed fish with garlic and ginger served with white rice and Thai sauce.

The chef, born in Chile, was inspired by his rich 25-year trajectory serving international clientele, has convened his top-grade culinary lethal weapons into the menus, killing palates with flavor and bringing consumers a completely cultured gastronomic experience.

“This project wouldn’t have been complete without a Puerto Rican station of course, so we have classics like lechon asado, empanadillitas and sorullitos. We are also going to be changing and switching the concepts as we start to see what the

La Marqueta provides up to two hours of free parking. >Photos by Gabriel López Albarrán

At Paulson and Co. we are strong believers in the potential of the island as well as its world-class local talent.

Whenever we launch a project, it is our main goal to have all the staff be local, furthering the economic development of the island. -

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customers are preferring” said the chef.

Two fully-stocked bars house the most creative of cocktails, like the Piña Picante, made with tequila, pineapple juice, cilantro, jalapeño and lime; and the refreshing Isla Fresca made with vodka, grapefruit, lime, rosemary and thyme. A crowd favorite is the Dragon Berry, a mix of gin, blackberries, lavender and dragon fruit. These can be found at the signature cocktail bar, fresh pressed fruit and veggie juices are at another.

“We really wanted to create something different, refreshing and creative. Something fun. We are also in the process of creating a garden where we will be growing our own herbs, like rosemary and thyme, for our signature drinks,” said Jessy Peters, La Marqueta general manager.

The establishment, another Paulson and Co. project, has generated a total of 48 new jobs for the tourism industry, as Paulson believes in Condado’s potential to be internationally revered.

“At Paulson and Co. we are strong believers in the potential of the island as well as its worldclass local talent. Whenever we launch a project it is our main goal to have all the staff be local, furthering the economic development of the island,” said Fahad Ghaffar, Paulson and Co. partner.

For breakfast lovers, La Marqueta has a café and juice bar on the exterior of the establishment, which open at 8 a.m. every day of the week. On the menu are classics like the eggs Benedict, the egg sandwich and the omelet. A more fun item is the huevos rancheros, two poached eggs, jalapeño cheddar corn bread, black beans, avocado, “crema mejicana” and cotija cheese. For the sweet tooth, sponge cakes, waffles and French toasts are available to order.

Lox bagels, grilled cheeses, BLT’s and pastramis are some of the offerings on the sandwiches and wraps section. You can also create your own burger. Appetizers include chicken or pork skewers with a selection of chimichurri, bbq or aioli sauce;

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La Marqueta opens at 8 a.m. every day of the week.

La Rustica is a crispy flour tortilla topped with roasted tomatoes, diced jalapeños, fresh cilantro, a Mexican cheese blend and pesto.

La Marqueta’s Piña Picante: tequila, pinneapple juice, jalapeño and lime.

beef, cheese or chicken turnovers; steamed bao bao buns and flatbread.

La Marqueta had its grand opening on Monday, Nov. 18 and is open seven days a week. It is located on 1005 Ashford Ave. in Condado, next to the Condado Plaza Hilton Hotel. You can visit their social media platforms on Instagram and Facebook for more information.

Chilean chef Mauricio Santelice has over 25 years of experience in Latin America and the United States.

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Local

“Mallorcas” to be Exported

to reach Puerto Ricans in the United States. In order to get our product into this new market and at grocery stores, I need preservatives. I am currently on the hunt for ones that won’t change our “mallorcas’” flavor, which is the most important thing to me,” said Ayala.

“So many people have asked me to mail my “mallorcas” to the States that I Stephanie Gómez Álvarez stephaniegomeza sgomez@elvocero.com have decided to start working on getting all the necessary permits so that, Goda Catalana, a family-owned willing, I may start exporting them in enterprise, has decided to 2020, “ added Ayala, who is part of the start exporting its “mallorcas” family’s third generation in charge of the to the United States in order company. to appease the diaspora that Even though they haven’t started clamors for the sweet treats exporting in full, they did start shipping made with a hundred-year-old their “mallorcas” stateside to many recipe. customers. Every month, they prepare Not only will they start shipping their packages with assorted goodies that they “mallorcas” stateside, but during the past year send to devoted consumers outside of they have also added various new items to Puerto Rico. their menu. The “mallorca” with cheese and THE WEEKLY JOURNAL was able guava, special to tour the bread made with company’s “mallorca” dough, facilities at Villa “pan sobao”, Palmeras in San “polvorones” Juan, where they (Puerto Rican have been since cookies) and 1930. La Catalana “besitos de currently employs coco” (Puerto 12 employees that Rican coconut are in charge of macaroons) are making, cooking, just some of the packaging and offerings that shipping the La Catalana has “mallorcas”. These started selling. workers produce - Manuel Ayala, one Manuel between 8,000 to of the proprietors of La Catalana Ayala, one of 18,000 mallorcas the proprietors, every day, from explained that his Monday to Friday. great-grandfather’s hundred-year-old recipe will “We make everything fresh, by hand, need to be altered so that the “mallorcas” can daily; our product doesn’t contain reach their destination still fresh. preservatives so the taste is different “This will be the first time that we use to everybody else’s. Our “mallorca” is preservatives in our mallorcas because I want sweet, soft, dense; it’s not a fluffy bread.

La Catalana will export its “mallorcas” to the mainland and add new items to its local menu

L

So many people have asked me to mail my “mallorcas” to the States that I have decided to start working on getting all the necessary permits so that, Godwilling, I may start exporting them in 2020

/ Wednesday, November 20, 2019

People may say that our mallorca is smaller when compared to others, but, when you eat them, you fill up because it’s not full of air. This is what a “mallorca” should taste like,” added Ayala.

Production varies because it depends on the quantity ordered. Aside from selling their “mallorcas” to individual customers, they sell to independent distributors who sell them to different establishments, such as gas stations and supermarkets, and to schools who use them for fundraising.

For Ayala, it is imperative to continue the family legacy and, with that end in mind, he continually instills in his children, nieces and nephews a love for the company.

“I grew up in this. This is how I have always earned my living. It fills me with pride to work and maintain my family’s legacy; to be able to keep our product the same as it’s always been and now to be able to diversify our offerings,” said Ayala, who is also the factory manager.

“We used to make a lot of different products but had stopped and are now starting to make them again. We are trying to grow because the family is now larger and we wish for our children to continue with the family business and to be here for a hundred more years,” he said.

La Catalana is located at 401 Del Valle St. in Santurce. For more information, or to purchase “mallorcas”, call (787) 727-6946.

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On Trend for

Christmas 2019

From Nautical to Metallic and Donuts to Gnomes, this Christmas is sure to be a festive one

Tree Ideas In regards to the preferred Christmas tree shape, Rodrigo stated that “it is always best to keep in mind the amount of space available when choosing a tree.

It’s also important to keep in mind the height so that when the tree topper is placed, the tree doesn’t look like it has been crammed into a space.”

Trends

Rodrigo, who also owns MAR-Designing Interiors, mentioned that for 2019 nature will take center stage as a theme. ovember is here and Christmas is “The design palette will include natural already in the air. People ornaments as well as wooden chandeliers and are walking around with the lanterns to round off the décor. Color will not be Christmas spirit on high, and a at the forefront because textures are the trend. vast number of businesses have Christmas 2019 will be a feast for the senses. already put out Sound, smell, touch and taste will their Christmas be heightened by the beautiful merchandise, including Christmas ornaments in the shape of donuts, trees. lollipops and sweet treats,” she Tips for Setting With this mind, THE WEEKLY added.

Up the Christmas Tree: JOURNAL sat down with licensed Nordic and Nautical interior designer María Adelaida Start with the topper Another prevalent style to Rodrigo to talk about Christmas Place smaller keep an eye out for during this decorating styles and tendencies ornaments first and then year’s Christmas is the Nordic for the home, down to Christmas mix with larger ones style, evident in ornaments and tree themes.

Use a 100 lights for decorations which combine color, every foot of height. A After having noticed that the shapes and repetitive patterns. tree that is six feet tall Christmas tree variety has changed must have 600 lights.

Meanwhile, the nautical style, over the past few years, THE There should be at inspired by objects found on WEEKLY JOURNAL decided to least 20 ornaments per the coasts, in a blue, blue-green start off by asking about this year’s foot of height and white color palette, evokes tendencies in terms of colors, sizes When using large tranquility and relaxation. and ornaments. ornaments, use at least Metallics, be them matte or “When it comes to Christmas 12 shiny, will also be trendy this trees, the current global trend is When using ribbon, Christmas season. colored trees. People are painting use at least three yards their trees in an array of colors; for every foot of height.

Colors If the tree is six feet tall, they can be painted in one solid “Although green, red and gold use 18 yards. color, multicolor, with a color have always been the traditional fading effect, some people are Christmas colors, for 2019, blue painting them black. The black is joining the party,” said Rodrigo.

Christmas tree is the perfect canvas for every She went on to say that midnight blues, deep shades Christmas style,” said Rodrigo. of blue, cerulean and aquamarine will be the most Rodrigo went on to say that “although many readily available. may frown upon the idea of a black Christmas tree “Bright colors, pastels, metallic, monochromatic because it seems negative or somber, the reality is décor or mixes of it all will also be widely seen that it blends in perfectly with traditional Christmas because they evoke light. Of course, you can never decorations, glass ornaments, metallic tones and go wrong with the very elegant black,” she said. even bright colors.”

N Melissa M. Cruz

mcruz@elvocero.com

@mmcruzrios

In fact...

Ornaments, Materials and Sizes

“Patterns are appealing. Dots and lines will cause a great stir this Christmas season. Chevron is also another favorite,” said Rodrigo.

Pom poms will also be trendy this Christmas.

“This year there will also be a trend of using flowers that aren’t normally used during Christmas.

I recommend mixing textures in order to create interesting combinations.”

Tree Toppers

For the past few years, stars, angels, bows and twigs have been the trend and this year will be no different, although Rodrigo assures that there will be some new additions.

“You can use twigs, bows and flowers; or you can use one ornament as the main focus point for the top of the tree and then decorate as simple or as elaborated as you wish. The most important thing to remember is to keep in mind the height of the tree and the ornaments it has. Always remember that the topper is the second thing you put on a tree,” she said.

Ribbons and Wreaths

Ribbons are versatile and give shape. According to Rodrigo they are great for adding color, textures and using as filler.

“Depending on the width of the ribbon, they can be used by themselves or in groups. Ribbons, fabric and wreaths are excellent for diving the tree in segments.

This, in turn, helps create color combinations, shapes, sizes and textures,” she added.

Lights, Lights and More Lights

Christmas tree lights are a very important part of this joyful season. According to Rodrigo, “for 2019 lighting reinvents itself”.

“There will be light everywhere; candles, LED’s, lanterns in different sizes. Warm golden light will keep being at the forefront, as we have seen in recent years.”

Let’s not forget…

“Gnomes, those friendly lawn ornaments, will be part of the Nordic style this Christmas. Let’s not forget that they can also be Santa’s helpers. These are available in an array of colors and can be used on the tree or as a decorative element throughout the home,” she concluded.

For more information, contact Rodrigo at (787) 5627155 or log on to her websites, www.mar-di.com and www.divineintervention.me.

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Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music Jazz Festival Enjoy great music and participate in Jazz workshops!

When: Friday, Nov. 22 – Saturday, Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, 951 Ponce de León Ave., San Juan

DJ Ivan Robles Fridays: 80’s & The Beatles: Tributo Sinfónico 90’s vibes Experience vibrant nights featuring music and hits from the best clubs in the world in the style of renowned DJ Ivan Robles.

When: Friday, Nov. 22 8 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Where: El San Juan Hotel, 6063 Isla Verde Ave., Carolina

The Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra will be pay homage to The Beatles with a one-night-only tribute concert featuring the Jukebox Beatles, a tribute band that’s been delighting fans with their Beatlemania for over 18 years.

When: Sunday, Nov. 24, 5 p.m.

Where: Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, 22 Ponce de León Ave., Santurce

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Escambrón Embellece - Scuba Dogs Clean Up at Escambrón Beach Help clean up the beach and the ocean! Free oxygen tanks will be provided to certified divers who can assist in cleaning up the ocean floor.

All who participate of the event will receive a 20 percent discount on a future equipment rental.

When: Sunday, Nov. 24, 8 a.m.

Where: Escambrón Beach, San Juan

Jesse and Joy Tour 2019 Mexican pop duo Jesse and Joy will delight fans with hits like “Tanto” and “Me soltaste”.

When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 500 Arterial B Ave., San Juan

Suena a Navidad The chorus of the University of Puerto Rico will host their annual Christmas concert.

When: Sunday, Nov. 24, 5 p.m.

Where: University of Puerto Rico Theater, Río Piedras

MECA Art Fair MECA , Mercado Caribeño, is the Caribbean’s premier meeting point for the art markets of Latin America, the United States and the Caribbean, convening national and international galleries that are meticulously chosen through an open call. At the fair, attendees will experience and admire a curated selection of several pieces from all around the Americas.

MECA consists of more than 30 exhibitors between 11 international galleries, five local galleries, three special projects, and eight proposals for emerging artists and independent curators. The artworks are displayed in juxtaposition with the colonial architecture of Old San Juan’s Arsenal de la Marina Española.

When: Thursday, Nov. 21- Sunday, Nov. 24 Where: Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, La Puntilla street, San Juan

El Circo at The Volunteer Mall of San Juan Beekeeping The circus is coming to The Mall of San Juan!

The performances by entertainers from Russia, Colombia, Italy and México will make this the perfect family outing for children of all ages.

When: Friday, Nov. 22- Sunday, Nov. 24 Where: The Mall of San Juan

The Karma Honey Project is actively looking for volunteers to help with new projects centered on repopulating the world’s bee population. For more information please contact Candice Galek at (305) 501-0308 or karmahoneyproject@gmail.com When: Sunday, Nov. 24, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

MECA Illustration Art Fair Since it launched in 2017, MECA Art Fair has attracted so many collectors, art luminaries and curious creative types that the event has mushroomed into MECA Art Week. For its third edition, MECA will be hosting a smaller satellite art fair dedicated exclusively to illustrations— MECA Illustration Art Fair.

Once you have stopped by the main fair in Old San Juan, make your way over to the artsy neighborhood of Santurce for this new satellite fair.

When: Friday, Nov. 22- Sunday, Nov. 24 Where: Pública,1057 Juan Ponce de León Ave., San Juan