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Puerto
Rico
"Borinquen la Bella" as the native Indians,
and the Spanish explorers used to call the island. Some prefer to call her
"la Isla del Encanto" (the Enchanting Island).
Also "la Isla del Coquí", because
of this beautiful species of melodic frog (shown above) that is autochthonous
of the island. Supposedly, no other Caribbean island has Coquis.
I remember many evenings, that I spent relaxing with friends and relatives
in this tropical island, and listening to this indefatigable singer.
What memories!
I lived in Mayagüez, PR, from 1971 and until 1974 when
I finished my Engineering studies at the University of Puerto Rico -RUM
(that I had started in Barcelona, Spain). Then we left for Long Island,
NY. Just before Christmas of 1980 we returned to Puerto Rico where
we lived until 1986.
The picture to the right was taken when my households
arrived from New York in a 35 footer container. I am in the balcony
of our new house in Old San Juan (a 18th century house that had been
renovated, in O'Donnell St.). Police closed the street to traffic for 6
hours to give us a chance to unload the paraphernalia. My yellow riding
mower can be seen on the foreground of this photo, I had to give it
away to my brother in law. Needless to say, you do not need to mow
the lawn here in Old San Juan. |
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PUERTO RICO.- Our American
Commonwealth. That beautiful island where I lived 10 years, and where I
finished my Engineering studies. And where my son Ryan is currently studying
Optometry. All my three sons were born in Puerto Rico.
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What I can say about Puerto Rico?
You
are fortunate! You have self-determination. You can freely decide your own
future. |
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If that future is to be the 51st State
that would be great! The US Congress will obey the will of the Puerto Rican
people when expressed in a popular referendum. |
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If that future is to continue with your
"Status Quo" that is your prerogative, and that is
probably the best way to go if you want to keep your Hispanic culture as
intact as possible. |
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If your future is as an independent
nation, I am sure that would make very happy to some those in third-tier parties. And most of you would be also happy at heart, I know
that! However, from an economic standpoint, I do not think this
last alternative will be in the best economic interest of your country,
and of your people. But, it is up
to you, Borincanos ! |
Whichever outcome were to be decided,
there is no need for me to say that you
will always have a friend in Juan Xuna!
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YOU
CAN COUNT ON ME !
YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY
!
Juan
Xuna
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This is the office I had in Recinto Sur St., Old San
Juan. A city Policeman is writing a report, on this day of
January of 1981, when a window of my store was broken, and the robbers
took my two computers I used for development ("Scientific
Software" venture). Two weeks early I had opened for business
selling micro-computers. I had copies of the "XUNA D.M.I.S."
program, so I was able to rebuild the program in a few days. This
operation for the sale of PC hardware was appropriately named
"Business Micro-Computers" or B.M.C. |
A month later my father José (who came from Spain
to visit us, and spent a month in San Juan) posed with me for this picture
in front of my operation, which now was protected with iron bars. My
son Ryan (7 years old at the time) is in the background. My father died in
his home in Spain, of a heart attack 11 years after this picture was taken
(RIP). |
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The pictures above (embroiderer, and ex-Governors Muñoz
Marin and José Colón) came from issues of National Geographic (dated
12/1939 and 12/1962).
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On this picture to the right I am in Dorado, Puerto
Rico, with my three sons (Ryan, Jason and Kelvin) and with my sister Maria
Rosa, nephew Ivan, and niece Marta. My brother in law, Fernando took
the picture (1985).
Although my sister and her family now live in Spain,
they came to visit us from Caracas, Venezuela, where they lived for a
couple of years in a business assignment. Fernando was an executive
of a Spanish bank that has branches in Latin America. |
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