The largest influence on the Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico is that of the Canary Islands. These are the most romantic places for islands in Puerto Rico: Which places provide the best hidden gems for islands in Puerto Rico? Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, also known as the Father of Puerto Rican Literature, ushered in a new age of historiography with the publication of The Historical Library of Puerto Rico. [227] Such a parallel accusation would constitute double jeopardy. The increasing number of Atlantic wars in which the Caribbean islands played major roles, like the War of Jenkins' Ear, the Seven Years' War and the Atlantic Revolutions, ensured Puerto Rico's growing esteem in Madrid's eyes. [h][i][j][k], In 1520, King Charles I of Spain issued a royal decree collectively emancipating the remaining Taíno population. They are excluded from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the island actually receives a smaller fraction of the Medicaid funding it would receive if it were a U.S. [184] However, all official business of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico is conducted in English. Boek je accommodatie, vlucht en vervoer allemaal tegelijk en ontvang extra korting op je volgende reis! The Adjutant General, in turn, delegates the authority over the State Guard to another officer but retains the authority over the Puerto Rico National Guard as a whole. On Sunday April 30 the British ceased their attack and began their retreat from San Juan. They raised what they called the Puerto Rican flag, which was adopted as the national flag. Coastal waters temperatures around the years are about 75 °F (24 °C) in February to 85 °F (29 °C) in August. Species endemic to the archipelago number 239 plants, 16 birds and 39 amphibians/reptiles, recognized as of 1998. In the early 20th century, Puerto Rico was ruled by the U.S. military, with officials including the governor appointed by the president of the United States. No Taxation! Six years after the first visit, AND1 returned as part of their renamed Live Tour, losing to the Puerto Rico Streetballers. A hurricane passes in the vicinity of the island, on average, every seven years. It is classified by the International Monetary Fund as a developed jurisdiction with an advanced, high-income economy;[23] it ranks highly on the Human Development Index. The largest of these installations were the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility (AFWTF) on Vieques, the National Guard training facility at Camp Santiago in Salinas, Fort Allen in Juana Diaz, the Army's Fort Buchanan in San Juan, the former U.S. Air Force Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, and the Puerto Rico Air National Guard at Muñiz Air Force base in San Juan.[251]. [279] The practice of approving budgets with a structural deficit has been done for 21 consecutive years starting in 2000. They also said that "Congress must enact measures recommended by both Republicans and Democrats that fix Puerto Rico's inequitable health care financing structure and promote sustained economic growth. [284] Holistically, from FY2000–FY2010 Puerto Rico's debt grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% while GDP remained stagnant. It caused extensive property damage and widespread losses, damaging infrastructure, especially bridges. Puerto Rico has four schools of Medicine and three ABA-approved Law Schools. [156] A census in 1887 found a population of around 800,000, of which 320,000 were black.[157]. Old San Juan is one of the two barrios, in addition to Santurce, that made up the municipality of San Juan from 1864 to 1951, at which time the former independent municipality of Río Piedras was annexed. Rumors of the planned event spread to the local Spanish authorities who acted swiftly and put an end to what would be the last major uprising in the island to Spanish colonial rule. Other than U.S. Coast Guard and Puerto Rico National Guard facilities, there are only two remaining military installations in Puerto Rico: the U.S. Army's small Ft. Buchanan (supporting local veterans and reserve units) and the PRANG (Puerto Rico Air National Guard) Muñiz Air Base (the C-130 Fleet). [190] In 1512, priests were established for the parochial churches. Around $250 million investment is needed to make sure cruise ships can continue to dock there in the years to come. [83] Some political leaders, such as Pedro Albizu Campos, who led the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, demanded a change in relations with the United States. Other studies show Amerindian ancestry in addition to the Taíno. The official languages[182] of the executive branch of government of Puerto Rico[183] are Spanish and English, with Spanish being the primary language. As is the case with state governments, it has established several trade agreements with other nations, particularly with Hispanic American countries such as Colombia and Panamá.[245][246]. Rich history and culture, exceptional food, pristine beaches, majestic mountains, relaxation, adventure — … In de agglomeratie rond de stad wonen ongeveer 2,5 miljoen mensen. [186] English is taught as a second language and is a compulsory subject from elementary levels to high school. On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists from New York City, Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo, attempted to assassinate President Harry S. Truman at his temporary residence of Blair House. Puerto Ricans who become residents of a U.S. state can vote in presidential elections. Strict remodeling codes were implemented to prevent new constructions from affecting the common colonial Spanish architectural themes of the old city. Just before that deadline, the control board gave the Commonwealth government until February 28 to present a fiscal plan (including negotiations with creditors for restructuring debt) to solve the problems. Written works by the native islanders of Puerto Rico were prohibited and repressed by the Spanish colonial government. [231], Puerto Ricans "were collectively made U.S. citizens" in 1917 as a result of the Jones-Shafroth Act. "María de las Mercedes Barbudo; Primera mujer independentista de Puerto Rico; "Real Cédula de 1789 "para el comercio de Negros, "Chronology of Puerto Rico in the Spanish–American War", "Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain", "Report by the President's task force on Puerto Rico's Status", "Sistema de Alerta de Tsunamis de Puerto Rico y el Caribe", "Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Civil Rights in Puerto Rico. [234][235][236][237][238][239][240][241] In 2009, Puerto Rico paid $3.742 billion into the U.S. The island has an average temperature of 82.4 °F (28 °C) throughout the year, with an average minimum temperature of 66.9 °F (19 °C) and maximum of 85.4 °F (30 °C). [196], The CIA World Factbook reports that 85% of the population of Puerto Rico identifies as Roman Catholic, while 15% identify as Protestant and Other. Though the Commonwealth government has its own tax laws, Puerto Ricans are also required to pay many kinds of U.S. federal taxes, not including the federal personal income tax for Puerto Rico-sourced income, but only under certain circumstances. In 1993, Commonwealth status won by a plurality of votes (48.6% versus 46.3% for statehood), while the "none of the above" option, which was the Popular Democratic Party-sponsored choice, won in 1998 with 50.3% of the votes (versus 46.5% for statehood). Settlers from outside Spain also arrived in the islands, including from Corsica, France, Lebanon, China, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, Germany and Italy. "[303] Ultimately, the report concluded that "[the] effects of modifying the application of the Jones Act for Puerto Rico are highly uncertain" for both Puerto Rico and the United States, particularly for the U.S. shipping industry and the military preparedness of the United States. [174][175] Additionally, there are many non-Puerto Rican U.S. citizens settling in Puerto Rico from the mainland United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Nuyoricans (stateside Puerto Ricans) coming back. Congressman Vito Marcantonio and confirmed by a report from the Hays Commission, which investigated the events, led by Arthur Garfield Hays, counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union. In 1647, Torres Vargas wrote Descripción de la Ciudad e Isla de Puerto Rico ("Description of the Island and City of Puerto Rico"). The largest and oldest university system is the public University of Puerto Rico (UPR) with 11 campuses. In early July 2017 for example, the PREPA power authority was effectively bankrupt after defaulting in a plan to restructure $9 billion in bond debt; the agency planned to seek Court protection. The judicial branch is headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, currently Maite Oronoz Rodríguez. In her poem The Messenger-Bird, Felicia Hemans refers to a Puerto Rican legend concerning The Fountain of Youth, supposedly to be found in the Lucayan Archipelago. This bilaterally agreed-upon charter maintained a governor appointed by the King of Spain – who held the power to annul any legislative decision – and a partially elected parliamentary structure. [g] Eventually, traders and other maritime visitors came to refer to the entire island as Puerto Rico, and San Juan became the name of the main trading/shipping port. The governor then either approves it or vetoes it. Puerto Rican baseball players include Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda and Roberto Alomar, enshrined in 1973, 1999, and 2011 respectively.[336][337][338]. This mostly unsupervised population supplied villages and settlements with foodstuffs and, in relative isolation, set the pattern for what later would be known as the Puerto Rican Jíbaro culture. True to their historic origins, Puerto Rican caretas always bear at least several horns and fangs. The local conservative political factions opposed independence. Throughout those years, including present time, all budgets contemplated issuing bonds to cover these projected deficits rather than making structural adjustments. [u][v], In comparison to the different states of the United States, Puerto Rico is poorer than Mississippi (the poorest state of the U.S.) with 41% of its population below the poverty line. The "Have We Met Yet?" Puerto Rico (Spanish for 'Rich Port'; abbreviated PR, Taino: Boriken, Borinquen), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit. Almost one out of every four dollars in the consolidated budget comes from U.S. federal subsidies while government-owned corporations compose more than 31% of the consolidated budget. [24], Puerto Rico is Spanish for "rich port". This great variety of traditions came together to form La Cocina Criolla. The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, along with the Office of the Resident Commissioner, manages all its intergovernmental affairs before entities of or in the United States (including the federal government of the United States, local and state governments of the United States, and public or private entities in the United States). They subsisted by hunting and fishing, done generally by men, as well as by the women's gathering and processing of indigenous cassava root and fruit. Because the U.S. federal government operates primarily in English, all Puerto Rican attorneys must be bilingual in order to litigate in English in U.S. federal courts, and litigate federal preemption issues in Puerto Rican courts. He organized a protest at the University of Puerto Rico in 1935, in which four were killed by police. This is the largest of Puerto Rico’s islands, measuring approximately 21 miles (34 kilometers) long and four miles (six kilometers) wide. It also sold $2.5 billion worth of bonds to raise cash for its troubled pension system – a risky practice – and it sold still more long-term bonds to cover its yearly budget deficits. In February, Governor-General Manuel Macías inaugurated the new government under the Autonomic Charter. [268] By October 2019, nearly all of the popular amenities for tourists, in the major destinations such as San Juan, Ponce and Arecibo, were in operation on the island and tourism was rebounding. But it’s precisely because of its size that the island offers something else … In particular, the authority to establish the control board derives from the federal government's constitutional power to "make all needful rules and regulations" regarding U.S. territories; The president would appoint all seven voting members of the board; and the board would have broad sovereign powers to effectively overrule decisions by Puerto Rico's legislature, governor, and other public authorities. The area of Puerto Rico span over 5,320 square miles of which 3,420 square … [107], On November 6, 2012, a two-question referendum took place, simultaneous with the general elections. "Five Years of Tyranny", Speech before the U.S. House of Representatives. The influence of Puerto Rican literature has transcended the boundaries of the island to the United States and the rest of the world. [150][better source needed] However, tourism, pollution, and hurricanes have threatened the organisms.[151]. Col. Ab. Puerto Rican literature continued to flourish and many Puerto Ricans have since distinguished themselves as authors, journalists, poets, novelists, playwrights, essayists, and screenwriters. [124] Rivers in the northern region of the island are typically longer and of higher water flow rates than those of the south, since the south receives less rain than the central and northern regions. [242] Residents of Puerto Rico pay into Social Security, and are thus eligible for Social Security benefits upon retirement. [255][256] According to World Bank, gross national income per capita in Puerto Rico in 2013 was $23,830 (PPP, International Dollars); it ranked 63rd among all sovereign and dependent territories in the world. The population suffered extremely high fatalities from epidemics of European infectious diseases. Taíno loanwords are most often used in the context of vegetation, natural phenomena, and native musical instruments. [126] It originated off the coast of Aguadilla, several kilometers off the northern coast, and was accompanied by a tsunami. The homicide rate of 19.2 per 100,000 inhabitants was significantly higher than any U.S. state in 2014. [116][117], The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has an area of 5,320 square miles (13,800 km2), of which 3,420 sq mi (8,900 km2) is land and 1,900 sq mi (4,900 km2) is water. It is larger than two states; Rhodes Island and Delaware and over 96% the size of Connecticut. He then submits this formulation as a budget request to the Puerto Rican legislature before July 1, the date established by law as the beginning of Puerto Rico's fiscal year. These are the best places for budget-friendly islands in Puerto Rico: Which places provide the most romantic islands in Puerto Rico? ), pr.gov (in Spanish) "La manufactura es el sector principal de la economía de Puerto Rico. An Eastern Orthodox community, the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos / St. Spyridon's Church is located in Trujillo Alto, and serves the small Orthodox community. It was intended to transform Puerto Rico's economy from agriculture-based to manufacturing-based to provide more jobs. 09-2186, "Puerto Rico's Political Status and the 2012 Plebiscite: Background and Key Questions", "Taino Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean", "¡Adelante Hermanas de la Raza!, Josefina Silva de Cintron and Puerto Rican Women's Feminismo. Since 2007, the Puerto Rico State Department has developed a protocol to issue certificates of Puerto Rican citizenship to Puerto Ricans. [283], Losses by government-owned corporations have been defrayed through the issuance of bonds compounding more than 40% of Puerto Rico's entire public debt today. The latter is the only inhabited islet with communities like Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra, and connected to the main island by bridges. He then occupied the port and attacked the city while the population hurried for shelter behind the Morro's moat and high battlements. Governor Rossello rejected this plan as unjustified and unnecessary. The recovering infrastructure from the 2017 hurricanes, as well as new governor Wanda Vázquez Garced, were put to the test against a potential humanitarian crisis. The Jones Act also provided for a popularly elected Senate to complete a bicameral Legislative Assembly, as well as a bill of rights. [54] Enslaved Africans had already begun to be imported to compensate for the native labor loss, but their numbers were proportionate to the diminished commercial interest Spain soon began to demonstrate for the island colony. Puerto Rico has surprisingly been able to maintain a relatively low inflation in the past decade while maintaining a purchasing power parity per capita higher than 80% of the rest of the world. Best Islands and Cays to Visit Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico. Telecommunications in Puerto Rico includes radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet. The 65th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed "The Borinqueneers" from the original Taíno name of the island (Borinquen), is a Puerto Rican regiment of the United States Army. "[164] Another study estimates 63.7% European, 21.2% (Sub-Saharan) African, and 15.2% Native American; European ancestry is more prevalent in the West and in Central Puerto Rico, African in Eastern Puerto Rico, and Native American in Northern Puerto Rico. The population of Puerto Rico has been shaped by initial Amerindian settlement, European colonization, slavery, economic migration, and Puerto Rico's status as unincorporated territory of the United States. [21][22], Beginning in the mid 20th century, the U.S. government, together with the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, launched a series of economic projects to develop Puerto Rico into an industrial high-income economy. Puerto Rican cuisine has transcended the boundaries of the island, and can be found in several countries outside the archipelago. With the advent of the lively Bourbon Dynasty in Spain in the 1700s, the island of Puerto Rico began a gradual shift to more imperial attention. By approximately 1000 AD, it had become dominant. Spanish is the dominant language of business, education and daily life on the island, spoken by nearly 95% of the population. Pueblo v. Tribunal Superior, 92 D.P.R. The district is also characterized by numerous public plazas and churches including San José Church and the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, which contains the tomb of the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. Even though the conspiracy was unsuccessful, Xiorro achieved legendary status and is part of Puerto Rico's folklore. The Foraker Act of 1900 gave Puerto Rico a certain amount of civilian popular government, including a popularly elected House of Representatives. ", PRGDB "Financial Information and Operating Data Report to October 18, 2013" p. 142, MRGI (2008) "Many female migrants leave their families behind due to the risk of illegal travel and the high cost of living in Puerto Rico. El Yunque is home to more than 240 plants, 26 of which are endemic to the island. In order to be eligible, applicants must have been born in Puerto Rico, born outside of Puerto Rico to a Puerto Rican-born parent, or be an American citizen with at least one year of residence in Puerto Rico. [168] The vast majority of recent immigrants, both legal and illegal, come from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. [w] When compared to Latin America, Puerto Rico has the highest GDP per capita in the region. When held upright, from right to left, the strings are G, D, A, E, B. In the Jayuya revolt, known as the "Jayuya Uprising", the Puerto Rican governor declared martial law, and attacked the insurgents in Jayuya with infantry, artillery and bombers under control of the Puerto Rican commander. [5] Eventually traders and other maritime visitors came to refer to the entire island as Puerto Rico, while San Juan became the name used for the main trading/shipping port and the capital city. In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered their deactivations, but these have been opposed by diverse public and private entities in Puerto Rico – such as retired military who rely on Ft. Buchanan for the services available there. Among these was Dr. Manuel A. Alonso, the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance. The Senate is headed by the president of the Senate, currently Thomas Rivera Schatz, while the House of Representatives is headed by the speaker of the House, currently Carlos Johnny Méndez. In the aftermath, on April 2, 1943, Tydings introduced another bill in Congress calling for independence for Puerto Rico, though it was again defeated.[78]. This memorandum directs all federal departments, agencies, and officials to treat Puerto Rico administratively as if it were a state, insofar as doing so would not disrupt federal programs or operations. The United States added English-language influence, the university system and the adoption of some holidays and practices. Of the ten most populous cities on the island, eight are located within what is considered San Juan's metropolitan area, while the other two are located in the south (Ponce) and west (Mayagüez) of the island. U.S. Const. Instead, they must proceed directly to U.S. ports, where distributors break bulk and send Puerto Rico-bound manufactured goods to Puerto Rico across the ocean by U.S.-flagged ships.[298]. From the beginning of the country, the colonial administration relied heavily on the industry of enslaved Africans and creole blacks for public works and defenses, primarily in coastal ports and cities, where the tiny colonial population had hunkered down. Broadcasting in Puerto Rico is regulated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). [229], Constitutionally, Puerto Rico is subject to the plenary powers of the United States Congress under the territorial clause of Article IV of the U.S. ", Millán Rodriguez (2013; in Spanish) "Los representantes del Pueblo en la Junta de Gobierno de la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica [...] denunciaron ayer que la propuesta del Gobernador para hacer cambios en la composición del organismo institucionaliza la intervención político partidista en la corporación pública y la convierte en una agencia del Ejecutivo..", Vera Rosa (2013; in Spanish) "Aunque Puerto Rico mueve entre el sector público y privado $15 billones en el área de salud, las deficiencias en el sistema todavía no alcanzan un nivel de eficiencia óptimo. He later served as the first governor of the island. Other forms of public transportation include seaborne ferries (that serve Puerto Rico's archipelago) as well as Carros Públicos (private mini buses). Once the budget is approved, the Department of Treasury disburses funds to the Office of Management and Budget which in turn disburses the funds to the respective agencies, while the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank (the government's intergovernmental bank) manages all related banking affairs including those related to the government-owned corporations. Among the influential members of this movement were Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé and María de las Mercedes Barbudo. [78][79] During an address to the Puerto Rican legislature in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt recommended that Puerto Ricans become U.S. The municipal government sponsors regular health fairs in different areas of the city focusing on health care for the elderly and the disabled. for the wildlife viewing of birds, horses and snorkeling the beautiful wat... to this little island, enjoyed so much this adventure with the crystal waters. [66], William H. Seward, the Secretary of State under presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, had also stressed the importance of building a canal in Honduras, Nicaragua or Panama. Puerto Ricans have participated in many of the military conflicts in which the United States has been involved. [348] PREPA is the only entity authorized to conduct such business in Puerto Rico, effectively making it a government monopoly. Over the past fifty years, significant writers include Ed Vega (Omaha Bigelow), Miguel Piñero (Short Eyes), Piri Thomas (Down These Mean Streets), Giannina Braschi (Yo-Yo Boing! Like the different states of the United States, Puerto Rico lacks "the full sovereignty of an independent nation", for example, the power to manage its "external relations with other nations", which is held by the U.S. federal government. Imperial strategists and urban planners redesigned port settlements into military posts with the objective of protecting Spanish territorial claims and ensuring the safe passing of the king's silver-laden Atlantic Fleet to the Iberian Peninsula. Slavers, which had made but few stops on the island before, began selling more enslaved Africans to growing sugar and coffee plantations. Monica Puig won the first gold medal for Puerto Rico in the Olympic Games by winning the Women's Tennis singles title in Rio 2016.[344][345]. [277], In early August 2017, the island's financial oversight board (created by PROMESA) planned to institute two days off without pay per month for government employees, down from the original plan of four days per month; the latter had been expected to achieve $218 million in savings. In 1950, the U.S. Congress granted Puerto Ricans the right to organize a constitutional convention via a referendum; voters could either accept or reject a proposed U.S. law that would organize Puerto Rico as a "commonwealth" under continued U.S. sovereignty. Both entities frequently assist the Department of State of Puerto Rico in engaging with Washington, D.C.-based ambassadors and federal agencies that handle Puerto Rico's foreign affairs, such as the U.S. Department of State, the Agency for International Development, and others. Antonio S. Pedreira, described in his work Insularismo the cultural survival of the Puerto Rican identity after the American invasion. The U.S. Senate did not approve his annexation proposal, and Spain rejected the U.S. offer of 160 million dollars for Puerto Rico and Cuba. [58], With the increasingly rapid growth of independent former Spanish colonies in the South and Central American states in the first part of the 19th century, the Spanish Crown considered Puerto Rico and Cuba of strategic importance. Meléndez, Edwin; Meléndez, Edgardo; Colonial Dilemma; Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Reserve Affairs; "Official Guard and Reserve Manpower Strengths and Statistics – Summary End Fiscal Year 1996;" 1996, Nicolas Kanellos, "Hispanic Firsts", Visible Ink Press (, Giovannetti, Jorge L. "Popular Music and Culture in Puerto Rico: Jamaican and Rap Music as Cross-Cultural Symbols", in, Ortiz, Yvonne. This historical book was the first to make a detailed geographic description of the island. Nationality in U.S. In Puerto Rico, public school instruction is conducted almost entirely in Spanish. ", "Financial Information and Operating Data Report to October 18, 2013", "San Juan 2023 o la decadencia de un País", "Puerto Rico's Power Authority Effectively Files for Bankruptcy", "Puerto Rico's Cost of Living Skyrockets", "MIDA concluye alto costo de vida es la preocupación mayor del boricua", "Puerto Rico's Economic Slump Weighs Hard on Consumers", "Life in Puerto Rico becomes costlier amid crisis", "Impact of the Coastwise Trade Laws on the Transportation System of the United States of America", "Jones Act requirement comes under new light", Puerto Rico Office of Legislative Services, "Senado aprueba proyecto para pedir trato preferencial en leyes de cabotaje", "GAO-13-260, Puerto Rico: Characteristics of the Island's Maritime Trade and Potential Effects of Modifying the Jones Act", United States Government Accountability Office, Impact of the U.S. Jones Act on Puerto Rico, "Perfil del Sistema Educativo – Año Escolar 2010–2011", "Puerto Rico's health system 'on life support' after blow", Triple-S Management Corporation Annual Report (Form 10-K), "Gun homicides and gun ownership listed by country", "Latin American Herald Tribune – 80% of Puerto Rico Murders Called Drug-Related", "After Carjacking Surge, Puerto Rico Is Wary Behind the Wheel", "Sacan familia de auto para hacer carjacking en Guaynabo", "Video: Carjacking en centro comercial de Guaynabo", "Mujer víctima de carjacking a punta de pistola en Guaynabo", "Arrests of Elvin Manuel Otero Tarzia, Sebastian Angelo Saldana, Kevin Rivera Ruiz, and a Male Juvenile", "Alarmante la cifra de "carjackings" en la Isla", "National Geographic Traveler Article: Puerto Rico", "Baseball Hall of Fame entry for Roberto Clemente", "Baseball Hall of Fame entry for Orlando Cepeda", "Baseball Hall of Fame entry for Roberto Alomar", "Olympics 2004 – Basketball – Shock defeat for USA", "Melendez adds a new country to Globetrotters' resume", "Who is Mónica Puig the Puerto Rico player who won the gold medal in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games women's tennis final? Cable TV subscription services are available and the U.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television Service also broadcast on the island. In 2008, the archipelago's first unified league, the Puerto Rico Soccer League, was established. By 1848 the first restaurant, La Mallorquina, opened in Old San Juan. Members of the judicial branch are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. These are the best places for kid-friendly islands in Puerto Rico: Which places provide the best islands in Puerto Rico for couples? The executive branch is headed by the governor, currently Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia. The Puerto Rico Baseball League serves as the only active professional league, operating as a winter league. Early Dutch, French, Italian, and Chinese immigrants influenced not only the culture but Puerto Rican cooking as well. [63][64][65], In 1890, Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, a member of the Navy War Board and leading U.S. strategic thinker, published a book titled The Influence of Sea Power upon History in which he argued for the establishment of a large and powerful navy modeled after the British Royal Navy.