Puerto Rican Tennis Champions Create Luxury Golf Course in Puerto Rico

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The Royal Isabela in Puerto Rico was founded by local Puerto Rican natives and brothers Stanley Pasarell and Charlie Pasarell. Royal Isabela is set in in the municipality of Isabela in the northwestern region of Puerto Rico. The luxury gulf course is set on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and is about 73 miles from the San Juan International Airport and 10 miles from the Aguadilla International Airport. This golf resort boasts its tight knit private golf community and is the ideal getaway for travelers.

royal-isabela-golf Puerto Rico

royal-isabela-golf Puerto Rico

royal-isabela-restaurant Photo credit: instagram.com/royalisabela

The Pasarell brothers wanted to bring their love of Puerto Rican culture and hospitality to Royal Isabela. The Royal Isabela is one of the top golf courses in the Caribbean and was named in honor of Queen Isabella of Castile, Spain. There are 20 intimate casitas with 1,500 square feet of living space, a private pool, and view of the ocean.

For more information about the Royal Isabela, visit www.royalisabela.com.

About the Pasarell Brothers

Charlie Pasarell was elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame this year and was voted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. He attended UCLA and won the NCAA men’s singles title in 1966. He served as a tournament representative for the Americas on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and was instrumental in the development of the BNP Paribas Open, a premier professional tennis event, in Indian Wells, California.

Stanley Pasarell represented Puerto Rico at the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico. He won three silver medals in the 1966 Caribbean and Central American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He holds many titles and has received honors from the Stanford University Tennis Team, Hawaii Leis, and the Puerto Rico Tennis Hall of Fame.

Carmelo Anthony Charity Work In Puerto Rico

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Last weekend, New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony visited Puerto Rico to unveil two newly remodeled basketball courts located within the Magnolia Gardens public housing complex in the northern city of Bayamon. The newly remodeled basketball courts are used by the island’s top minor league players which have produced players that are part of the island’s Superior League. It is estimated that about 350 children currently use the two courts.

In a press conference last thursday Carmelo Anthony, whose father is Puerto Rican, said “There’s plenty of kids down there who need role models… I grew up in a situation like that. It was survival of the fittest.”

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Before & After of La Perla Basketball Court

Last year The Carmelo Anthony Foundation restored a basketball court in the northern coastal town of Luquillo. In 2010, they refurbished a popular basketball court in La Perla, which is a famous seaside slum in historic Old San Juan. Courts for Kids is a partnership between The Carmelo Anthony Foundation and Anthony’s Syracuse University coach’s Jim & Juli Boeheim Foundation. Their focus is to encourage and help kids in disadvantaged socioeconomic areas of Syracuse and Puerto Rico by giving them a better place to play and the opportunity to be successful both on the court and in life.

While in Puerto Rico, Melo also hosted a free-admission celebrity softball game with other athletes including Knicks teammates Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton, former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams, NBA players Marcus Camby and J.J. Barea, and rapper Fat Joe among others. The outcome for the softball game was great even though it was raining and Melo was seen signing autographs.

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Carmelo’s wife LaLa was also on the scene with her cousin Dice and friend Po. Carmelo Anthony expects to refurbish more of the island’s courts in the future.

Check out more photos from this past weekend’s events and past Courts for Kids charity work below!

New Upscale Mall, The Mall of San Juan, to be Built in Puerto Rico

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Taubman announced in recent months their plans to begin construction on a 640,000 square foot mall in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The state-of-the-art, two level enclosed mall will be known as The Mall of San Juan. The Mall of San Juan will be the first upscale mall on the island and is already set to include the very popular high fashion department stores Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. The $405-million shopping center will also include more than 100 specialty stores and restaurants, approximately 60 percent of which are anticipated to be new to the island.

taubman-mall-of-san-juan-inside“We are thrilled to bring Saks Fifth Avenue to Puerto Rico and to The Mall of San Juan,” noted Steve Sadove, chairman and chief executive officer of Saks Incorporated. “We look forward to delivering our distinctive, world-class selection of luxury brands and memorable service experiences to the residents of and visitors to the island.”

“The Mall of San Juan will be a very exciting shopping destination for Puerto Rico and we’re glad we’re a part of it. Our first priority is to serve the local island customer with a Nordstrom store of their own featuring great quality and luxury fashion for everyone in the family. It’s an added bonus to be able to serve visitors to Puerto Rico too,” said Erik Nordstrom, president of stores for Nordstrom.

The development is adjacent to the San Jose Lagoon at the south end of the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge and is just two miles away from the international airport. The Mall of San Juan will be designed to reflect the rich culture and heritage of San Juan, but with a fresh and contemporary twist. In addition to The Mall of San Juan, there are also plans to build a hotel and casino.

The projected opening of The Mall of San Juan is late 2014.

Source: Taubman, PR Newswire

100,000 Documentary – Dogs in Puerto Rico

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Directed by Juan Agustín Márquez, the Emmy award winning film 100,000 documents a growing problem on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico – stray dogs. These abandoned feral dogs, also known as “satos” in Puerto Rico, are often seen roaming the streets and beaches of Puerto Rico and are growing in number. The 100,000 documentary offers eye opening views of the problem, as well as the stories of volunteers making an effort to alleviate the issue without receiving much support from the government.

View the trailer for 100,000, information about the film, where you can view the film, and information about how YOU could help below…


www.100000movie.com

After the film aired in 2010, director Juan Márquez collaborated with Purina of Puerto Rico and created a 20 school film tour. Students watched the educational documentary about this growing problem and made a pledge to help abused animals. Check out footage of the film tour in Puerto Rico below!

‘100,000’ tours Puerto Rico’s schools. from Juan Agustin Marquez on Vimeo.

There are many ways we can stop the overpopulation and abuse of animals in Puerto Rico. “We have to keep promoting spaying and neutering in Puerto Rico. We have to break down the ‘machismo’ barrier that has blocked this concept in the minds of so many. Education is key at an early age.” says director Juan Marquez.

Take the pledge along with thousands of others:

To decrease the overpopulation problem and promote the proper care of dogs, I pledge to:

– Educate myself about dogs and think hard about it before having one.

– Adopt, instead of buying.

– Spay/neuter my dog.

– Integrate my dog to my family for his/her entire life.

– Vaccinate my dog and take him/her to the vet when he/she is sick.

– Register my dog with the microchip.

– Bathe my dog.

– Walk my dog on a leash every day.

– Play with my dog.

– Educate others about the proper care of dogs.

– Report dog abuse.

– Help stray dogs.

– Be the hero that my dog thinks I am.

Spread the word so everyone in Puerto Rico makes this commitment. Make a difference and be a hero!

For more on the documentary 100,000 and how to view the documentary visit www.100000movie.com

More ways to help our beautiful island from these great organizations:

  • Save A Sato – Takes in homeless animals, provides basic care including vaccination shots and spay/neuter services, rehoming services and more.
  • The Sato Project – Rescue, rehabilitate and adopt abandoned dogs. They have partnered with Pets Alive in NY and you can also volunteer to be an escort to take an animal with you from Puerto Rico to New York so they can have a chance to be adopted in the states.
  • Island Dog Inc – Dedicated to building animal friendly communities in Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra. Rescue, rehabilitate abused and adoptable animals.
  • Second Chance Animal Rescue – Rescue, rehabilitate, and locate forever homes for abandoned and neglected dogs. Provides each rescue with food, shelter, medical care and attention. Due to extreme suffering on the streets, many go on to live out their lives as a part of their sanctuary family and receive long term care.

Volleyball World League: USA vs Puerto Rico

Volleyball USA vs Puerto Rico
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Hola mi gente! I just received word that on Friday, July 1st and Saturday, July 2nd Puerto Rico will be playing against USA in a FIVB Men’s World League Volleyball match! Of course it would be great if team Puerto Rico had some Boricuas in the stands cheering them on! The events will be at Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid. More information about this event below:

FIVB Volleyball World League

USA vs Puerto Rico

Friday July 1st & Saturday July 2nd at 7:00 PM
Long Beach State Walter Pyramid
1250 North Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840

Purchase your tickets online:
LongBeachState.com

Or call the Box Office:
(562) 985-4949