172-541: Susa y Epifanio are a comedic duo of fictional characters from Puerto Rico . They hosted the radio program Prende El Fogón on WSKN -AM in San Juan , and the weekday television program El Fogón TV on WORO-DT in Carolina . They also make frequent personal appearances all through Puerto Rico and the diaspora. The duo made a cameo appearance in the 2005 feature film El Sueño del Regreso . Epifanio González Villamil
344-569: A New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (PNP, in Spanish) supporter (as many pro-statehood Puerto Ricans are). She is single by choice, since her standard in men have to resemble either Cruise or PNP leader Pedro Rosselló , something that is rather difficult to find in Puerto Rico. She is also a good " jíbaro " singer (which gives away on Velázquez's own talents as a singer), and is considerably more street-smart than Epifanio. Her trademark phrase
516-412: A U.S. state or Washington, D.C. can vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico has eight senatorial districts , 40 representative districts , and 78 municipalities ; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the U.S. government. Municipalities are subdivided into wards or barrios , and those into sectors. Each municipality has a mayor and a municipal legislature elected for
688-570: A fig leaf , i.e., associated with the covering up of an act that is actually embarrassing or distasteful with something of innocuous appearance. Puerto Rico remains a territory of the United States, exercising substantial internal self-government, but subordinated to the U.S. Constitution in areas such as foreign affairs or defense. For this reason, it is not considered to be a full-fledged associated state under either international or U.S. domestic law. The history of Puerto Rico began with
860-511: A miser to good use. Most of these attempts would inevitably backfire (or would somehow hint Chachita of her lineage, something that, according to the story, would have to remain a secret forever given the circumstances of Chachita's adoption), and hence, would make the plot of the story each day, since "El Derecho de Lavar" was a daily 20-minute section within a daily variety show (then aired on WLUZ-TV, San Juan 's former Channel 7). The format proved to be too rigid to sustain over time, so some of
1032-409: A $ 1.8 million offer. In order to establish the newly named Teleluz, he intended to dedicate it to sports and pursued the rights of transmission for the 1979 Pan American Games . However, governor Carlos Romero Barceló requested voiding the auction where WRIK-TV acquired the rights so that the event could air through WIPR-TV, noting that otherwise they would be cancelled. Muñiz was unsatisfied with
1204-475: A 1932 red Ford, and acquired an Underwood typewriter in which he wrote his scripts. Meanwhile, he survived by raising chickens for his parents in law which served to produce eggs to sell and would also be sold themselves. The couple moved to Santa Rita in Río Piedras and had three children, Tómad Gerardo, Félix Antonio and Mario Andrés. Muñiz loaned a building at Santurce, which would serve as his workplace,
1376-436: A binding referendum. The bill does not decide PR's fate, it simply prepares the United States to respond the outcome of referendum. In the 5 November 2024 elections, there was three choices in a non-binding referendum which included Statehood, Independence, or Independence with Free Association on the ballot; Statehood won with 59%. In addition, on November 5, 2024, Jennifer Gonzalez won the office of Governor of Puerto Rico in
1548-480: A community service vehicle for Alicea and Velázquez, and particularly for Alicea. Susa and Epifanio have also taken their " Fogón " format into television. On their current television program, "El Fogón TV", they attempt to interview political figures using humor to disarm them. Puerto Rican governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá was their first guest. Susa and Epifanio have also recorded various radio and television advertisements, particularly for products and services catering to
1720-467: A four-year term. The municipality of San Juan is the oldest, founded in 1521; the next earliest settlements are San Germán in 1570, Coamo in 1579, Arecibo in 1614, Aguada in 1692 and Ponce in 1692. Increased settlement in the 18th century saw 30 more communities established, following 34 in the 19th century. Six were founded in the 20th century, the most recent being Florida in 1971. Since 1952, Puerto Rico has had three main political parties:
1892-548: A hit. A commentary show hosted by José Antonio "El Profe" Ortiz, was originally co-hosted by Mariano Artau and Carmen Jovet. Later, Jovet was moved to the news segment Cámara Siete . A morning segment, Despierta Puerto Rico , would later complete the news programming. Cámara Siete would gather a number of exclusives, including special programming surrounding the Falklands War and the arrival of Deborah Carthy-Deu after winning Miss Universe . His son, Pedro Muñiz,
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#17327727908412064-768: A key part of the Spanish Empire from the early years of the exploration, conquest and colonization of the New World . The island was a major military post during many wars between Spain and other European powers for control of the region in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In 1593, Portuguese soldiers, sent from Lisbon by order of Phillip II, composed the first garrison of the San Felipe del Morro fortress in Puerto Rico. Some brought their wives, while others married Puerto Rican women, and today there are many Puerto Rican families with Portuguese last names. The smallest of
2236-452: A live audience that filled the venue. In it, both his family and former employees and colleagues played homage to his career. On September 7, 1998, WIPR-TV began airing Noches de ayer , where Muñiz introduced episodes of his past work. The show would later be renamed Imagines and be hosted by Agrelot as well. On November 19, 1998, Muñiz sold Radio Luz. After suffering a heart attack on March 31, 1999, Muñiz underwent surgery. In May 1999,
2408-411: A local production to favor foreigners. Soon afterwards, he was joined by more people as APATE joined and people like Castro decided not to cross the protest lines, while others like Candal actively joined the protests. Morales in turn decided to quit on the air. Only Alida Arizmendi challenged the protests. WAPA-TV decided not to intervene and distanced itself from the issue. In the end, Muñiz granted
2580-767: A long history of service in the U.S. Armed Forces and, since 1917, they have been included in the U.S. compulsory draft when it has been in effect. Though the Commonwealth government has its own tax laws, residents of Puerto Rico, contrary to a popular misconception, do pay U.S. federal taxes: customs taxes (which are subsequently returned to the Puerto Rico Treasury), import/export taxes, federal commodity taxes, social security taxes, etc. Residents pay federal payroll taxes , such as Social Security and Medicare , as well as Commonwealth of Puerto Rico income taxes. All federal employees, those who do business with
2752-540: A member of the cast. The live performance of the radio scripts was popular and depending the nature of the work, required selective the public. However, his shows would be concurrent with Diplo, usually falling second to them. Muñoz would recruit Paquito Cordero to serve as Andy Tenorio in Las adventuras de Andy Tenorio , a show that was a parody of the Archie comics and included a Diplo impersonator. The show would give birth to
2924-572: A more tolerant, less grumpy image. He still uses risqué humor to refer to women he physically likes, which he calls "potrancas" (young mares ), and make the occasional pass to Susa. Susa and Epifanio would star in various inceptions of their show on Puerto Rican television: "Susa y Epifanio", "La Taberna Budweiser ", "El Kiosco Budweiser" and "Café Teatro El Fogón" , over various Puerto Rican television stations. They would also be featured constantly in Puerto Rican patron saint feasts, honoring
3096-499: A nighttime show, a pilot was filmed at WKAQ but problems with the station's protocol led to it being pitched to WAPA from its own studio. There, however, it was repurposed to avoid competing with the imported shows. During this time, his father also died, leaving him without his closest advisor in the business and personal confidant. Afterwards, Muñiz decided to leave La Casona behind and moved to Férnandez Juncos Avenue. With La criada malcriada becoming popular and Agrelot also hosting
3268-444: A number of additional actors in various roles. The show became the most successful television show in Puerto Rican history , having a mostly successful six-year run and staying for three of those years at the top of local television ratings. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Muñiz was the owner of a radio station (Radio Luz WLUZ) and a television channel ( Teleluz ). Both were named after his wife, Luz María. In 1988, he became one of
3440-569: A number of places and fiestas patronales for additional revenue. During these tours, the group became acquainted with several food establishments and where involved in several mishaps during the weekends, eventually adopting the name of "Caravana del Monte" gaining patronage from the Del Monte brand. A reírse con Ola changed names several times, twice due to branding in the cases of A reírse con Fab and Diviértase con Fab and once to highlight its characters in A reírse con Yoyo . Muñiz, however,
3612-526: A pet shop named Zoo Pet Shop. On April 19, 1955, the couple had its fifth child, Manuel Alberto. That same day, Muñiz received a call from WKAQ. Having practiced for the call in case that it came, he took the offer. His father had advised him to avoid appearing overly enthusiastic in his response in order to avoid appearing desperate. Producciones Tommy Muñiz was struggling Cordero and Agrelot were already involved in television shows Mímicas del Monte , Mapy y Papi and Capitán Colgate . Muñiz began working as
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#17327727908413784-402: A piece on the houses of historical Puerto Rican figures ( La casa feliz ) and a Christmas special ( La Navidad con don Tommy ) were aired the following year. Pedro became responsible for Producciones Tommy Muñiz. When Malrite Communications sold channel 7, Muñiz (who still owned 20% of the stocks) filed a lawsuit due to not being informed of the move, winning it and ending his relationship with
3956-486: A race jockey. His father Tómas Muñiz, Sr. had pursued several venues of substainance including real estate sales, while his mother Nena was sickly. He was an insecure child, which was reflected in issues at schools and a number of expulsions. Witnessing this, his uncle Félix Muñiz decided to take him to the West Indies Advertising Company (WIAC) where he worked. The institution would become
4128-551: A radio program, "Prende El Fogón", on WSKN-AM (later moved to WIAC-AM). On this program they would comment the news (Susa would sometimes sing a décima commenting a particular item), and open the phone lines. Susa and Epifanio would ridicule each other's political views, but more often they would ridicule the Puerto Rican political scene, something they claim would fit right into Gabriel García Márquez 's fictional town of Macondo in his book One Hundred Years of Solitude . The program has proven to be an audience favorite. It also opened
4300-507: A radio station in 1942, and when his uncle died, His father Tómas was selected to fill the vacancy. Since the age of 12, Muñiz would be the tasked with several functions within WIAC. Under José A. Torres Martinó, he learned to write scripts and wrote Francisquito Rosales y Miel de Aveja along his mentor. In this, he performed as the effeminate titular character. In 1939, Muñiz met Luz María García de la Noceda while coursing high school. During
4472-474: A return to theatre with a play named Los muchachos de la alegría , which was accepted and Morales was brought in to direct and as part of the cast. Agrelot was initially considered to lead the cast, but his issues with scripted work led to the reconciliation of Muñiz and Cordero after two decades of estrangement. The play was a hit and moved from Bellas Artes to Teatro Tapia and then left San Juan to be shown at Mayagüez and Ponce, totaling over 30 shows. Following
4644-469: A saber , which aired during the second week of May 1991. With Expo 92 being held in Spain, he and Rafo produced a special called De tal palo tal astilla, Rafo y don Tommy en Sevilla . Two other specials, Puerto Rico y sus islas (about local culture and geography) and the compendium on popular culture Latitud 18.5 , were also produced this year. A sequel to the first titled Las otras islas de Puerto Rico ,
4816-416: A script writer for Casino Tropical , a comedy segment of the half-hour El show de shows . Despite the family still living in poverty and he still selling animals for a living, Producciones Tommy Muñiz moved to Miramar in the large property that had been loaned by his parents years before, La Casona. While attending the pet shop, he received a call from WKAQ-TV to replace Agrelot at Capitán Colgate , leaving
4988-520: A secondary but strategically significant role compared to larger and wealthier colonies like Peru and New Spain . By the late 19th century, a distinct Puerto Rican identity began to emerge, centered around a fusion of European , African , and indigenous elements. In 1898, following the Spanish–American War , Puerto Rico was acquired by the United States . Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917 and can move freely between
5160-588: A significant degree of federal control involved in its establishment and operations. 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. There would be another referendum in 2017 in Puerto Rico, in favor of statehood although it
5332-489: A small zoo from which they gained some income and entertainment and which is said to have been a precursor of sorts to the Monoloro park. Other activities to distract them included leading the local Girl Scouts. Muñiz himself acquired a house at Cayey, where he would relax and host parties. Rafo and Pedro are both well-known actors and producers and Toño currently is Production Manager for various promoters in Puerto Rico. In
Susa y Epifanio - Misplaced Pages Continue
5504-537: A strong following, as judged by the attendance to personal presentations of the artists featured in them. He was responsible for introducing more than a dozen new artists to the media. He bought Radio Luz 1600 (WLUZ-AM) a radio station in Bayamón, Puerto Rico During the first years of commercial television in Puerto Rico, and after a brief period during which revenues from his radio productions trickled down, Muñiz opted to start producing television programs as well. During
5676-444: A supporting role. Within months, the show reached the top place in the ratings. When another foreign group purchased WAPA-TV, the new owners began implanting different moral standards that led to censoring some characters and modified the time slots. Unsatisfied with this, Producciones Tommy Muñiz moved his productions to Telecadena Pérez Perry. Muñiz then bought WRIK-TV, a small station but with good coverage, from United Artists on
5848-631: A tall, unemployed young man who wore basketball garb and constantly went to the Laundromat to clean his tennis shoes using the laundry's equipment. Epifanio hated Papo for many reasons: his tennis shoes would break the equipment up and Epifanio would use this as an excuse, but the real reason was their perceived social class differences. Epifanio, whose skin isn't "fair" by any means, would be openly racist towards Afro-Puerto Rican Papo. He would attempt to sabotage any of Chachita's efforts to go out with Papo, and for this he would put his considerable talent as
6020-493: A verbal target. Puerto Rican disc-jockey and television presenter Antonio Sánchez, "El Gangster", would make constant reference to a fabled (some say infamous) motel in Caguas, Puerto Rico , "La Hamaca" ("The Hammock") in his radio and television programs. Some television comedy characters in Puerto Rico would make occasional references to La Hamaca, and as a consequence of this, a vaudeville comedy play, called "Amor en La Hamaca"
6192-503: A vote in the U.S. Congress , which oversees it under the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950 . Congress approved a territorial constitution in 1952, allowing residents of the archipelago to elect a governor in addition to a senate and house of representatives . The political status of Puerto Rico is an ongoing debate . Beginning in the mid-20th century, the U.S. government , together with
6364-645: A year. On February 14, 1990, the film became the first local project to be nominated to the Academy Awards, competing in the "Best Foreign Film" category. During the director's dinner, his work as an actor was complimented by Gregory Peck . His performance in Lo que le pasó a Santiago led to the interest of TNT , which contracted him for the role of Tomás Ontiveros in Crazy from the Heart along Rubén Blades . During
6536-901: Is "¡Fuera, catarro!" ("Cold bug, go away!"), usually said as a wish for something unpleasant to go away (and particularly, referring to Epifanio). Susa somehow manages to continue a business relationship with Epifanio, who has always been abusive towards her. At the beginning, he was blatantly racist against Susa (due to her darker skin color), and called her a "monita" (monkey). Audience protests and complaints from Afro-Puerto Rican community leaders have only diminished Epifanio's rants, and he blames her troubles on her being "prieta, bruta y penepé" (black, dumb and PNP member). Susa almost always counters this by hitting Epifanio with her by-now legendary handbag when insulted, something that inevitably causes Epifanio considerable physical pain. Later on, Epifanio became an occasional sexual harasser of Susa's, parodying Puerto Rican relatively lax community standards on
6708-467: Is Spanish for "rich port". Puerto Ricans often call the island Borinquen , a derivation of Borikén , its Indigenous Taíno name, which is popularly said to mean "Land of the Valiant Lord". The terms boricua , borinqueño , and borincano are commonly used to identify someone of Puerto Rican heritage, and derive from Borikén and Borinquen respectively. The island
6880-520: Is also popularly known in Spanish as La Isla del Encanto , meaning "the island of enchantment". Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista , in honor of Saint John the Baptist , while the capital city was named Ciudad de Puerto Rico ("Rich Port City"). Eventually traders and other maritime visitors came to refer to the entire island as Puerto Rico, while San Juan became the name used for
7052-558: Is described in two books: an autobiography named "Así he vivido" ("That's the way I've lived") and "¡Juan, Juan, Juan! Crónicas de la televisión en tiempos de don Tommy" by Puerto Rican author Beba García. At one time or another, Muñiz also owned a restaurant ( La Campana ) in Cayey ), a pet shop in San Juan, a zoo ( Monoloro ) in Carolina , a thoroughbred stable, and a summer camp for children ("Camp Gualí"). He later delegated many of
Susa y Epifanio - Misplaced Pages Continue
7224-581: Is headed by the governor , currently Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia . The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Legislative Assembly , made up of a Senate as its upper chamber and a House of Representatives as its lower chamber; the Senate is headed by a president , currently José Luis Dalmau , while the House is headed by the speaker of the House , currently Tatito Hernández . The governor and legislators are elected by popular vote every four years, with
7396-482: Is land and 1,900 sq mi (4,900 km ) is water. Puerto Rico is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island but smaller than Connecticut . The maximum length of the main island from east to west is 110 mi (180 km), and the maximum width from north to south is 40 mi (64 km). Puerto Rico is the smallest of the Greater Antilles . It is 80% of the size of Jamaica , just over 18% of
7568-630: Is located in this range. Another important peak is El Yunque , one of the highest in the Sierra de Luquillo at the El Yunque National Forest , with an elevation of 3,494 ft (1,065 m). Puerto Rico has 17 lakes, all man-made, and more than 50 rivers , most of which originate in the Cordillera Central. Rivers in the northern region of the island are typically longer and of higher water flow rates than those of
7740-473: Is no reason for his proclivities to impede on his affiliations. Already militantly partial to both the PPD and his hometown of Ponce, when the mayor of Ponce, Rafael Cordero Santiago , became a strong leader of the PPD, Epifanio incorporated more references to Ponce and its mayor in his lines. He had to slightly minimize these after Cordero's untimely death from a stroke. After years of ambiguously identifying with
7912-509: Is played by Puerto Rican comedian, special education teacher, choreographer and dancer Víctor Alicea. Don Epifanio was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico sometime near 1945, and claims to having been raised in an upper class subsection of town called "La Rambla" (named after La Rambla in Barcelona). In reality, and according to their one-time producer, Luisito Vigoreaux , Don Epifanio was born on
8084-492: Is the coquí , a small frog easily identified by the sound of its call, from which it gets its name. Most coquí species (13 of 17) live in the El Yunque National Forest , the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest Service system, located in the northeast of the island. It was previously known as the Caribbean National Forest. El Yunque is home to more than 240 plants, 26 of which are endemic to
8256-559: The American model , with separation of powers subject to the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States. All governmental powers are delegated by the United States Congress , with the head of state being the president of the United States . As an unincorporated territory , Puerto Rico lacks full protection under the U.S. Constitution. The government of Puerto Rico is composed of three branches. The executive
8428-598: The Cabo Rojo , Desecheo , Culebra and Vieques National Wildlife Refuges , and in the Caja de Muertos and Mona and Monito Islands Nature Reserves . Examples of endemic species found in this ecoregion are the higo chumbo ( Harrisia portoricensis ), the Puerto Rican crested toad ( Peltophryne lemur ), and the Mona ground iguana ( Cyclura stejnegeri ), the largest land animal native to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has three of
8600-552: The Department of War . A U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Ortega v. Lara , 202 U.S. 339, 342 (1906), involving the Foraker Act and referring to the island as "the acquired country", soon affirmed that the U.S. Constitution applied within its territory and that any domestic Puerto Rican laws which did not conflict with it remained in force. The Jones Act of 1917, which made Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens , paved
8772-596: The Dominican Republic in the Greater Antilles and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Lesser Antilles , it consists of the eponymous main island and numerous smaller islands, including Vieques , Culebra , and Mona . With approximately 3.2 million residents , it is divided into 78 municipalities , of which the most populous is the capital municipality of San Juan , followed by those within
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#17327727908418944-456: The Greater Antilles , Puerto Rico was a stepping-stone in the passage from Europe to Cuba, Mexico, Central America, and the northern territories of South America. Throughout most of the 19th century until the conclusion of the Spanish–American War , Puerto Rico and Cuba were the last two Spanish colonies in the New World; they served as Spain's final outposts in a strategy to regain control of
9116-471: The Köppen climate classification is mostly tropical rainforest . Temperatures are warm to hot year round, averaging near 85 °F (29 °C) in lower elevations and 70 °F (21 °C) in the mountains. Easterly trade winds pass across the island year round. Puerto Rico has a rainy season , which stretches from April into November, and a dry season stretching from December to March. The mountains of
9288-801: The Popular Democratic Party (PPD in Spanish), the New Progressive Party (PNP in Spanish) and the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP). The three parties stand for different political status. The PPD, for example, seeks to maintain the island's status with the U.S. as a commonwealth , while the PNP seeks to make Puerto Rico a U.S. state . Meanwhile, the PIP seeks to make Puerto Rico a sovereign nation free from U.S. authority. In terms of party strength,
9460-638: The Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources . There are many other even smaller islets , like Monito , located near Mona, and Isla de Cabras and La Isleta de San Juan , both located on the San Juan Bay . The latter is the only inhabited islet with communities like Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra , which are connected to the main island by bridges. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has an area of 5,320 square miles (13,800 km ), of which 3,420 sq mi (8,900 km )
9632-781: The Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company , launched a series of economic projects to develop Puerto Rico into an industrial high-income economy. It is classified by the International Monetary Fund as a developed jurisdiction with an advanced, high-income economy ; it ranks 40th on the Human Development Index . The major sectors of Puerto Rico's economy are manufacturing , primarily pharmaceuticals , petrochemicals , and electronics, followed by services , namely tourism and hospitality. Puerto Rico
9804-515: The San Juan metropolitan area . Spanish and English are the official languages of the government , though Spanish predominates. Puerto Rico was settled by a succession of Amerindian peoples beginning 2,000 to 4,000 years ago; these included the Ortoiroid , Saladoid , and Taíno . It was claimed by Spain following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1493 and subsequently colonized by Juan Ponce de León in 1508. Puerto Rico
9976-589: The U.S. Treasury . Residents of Puerto Rico pay into Social Security, and are thus eligible for Social Security benefits upon retirement. They are excluded from the Supplemental Security Income , and the island receives a smaller fraction of the Medicaid funding it would receive if it were a U.S. state. Also, Medicare providers receive less-than-full state-like reimbursements for services rendered to beneficiaries in Puerto Rico, even though
10148-631: The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme : Luquillo Biosphere Reserve represented by El Yunque National Forest and the Guánica Biosphere Reserve . Species endemic to the archipelago number 239 plants, 16 birds and 39 amphibians / reptiles , recognized as of 1998. Most of these (234, 12 and 33 respectively) are found on the main island. The most recognizable endemic species and a symbol of Puerto Rican pride
10320-408: The archipelago and the mainland . However, residents of Puerto Rico are disenfranchised from federal elections and generally do not pay federal income tax . In common with four other territories , Puerto Rico sends a nonvoting representative to the U.S. Congress , called a Resident Commissioner , and participates in presidential primaries ; as it is not a state, Puerto Rico does not have
10492-495: The 1940s, when radios where ubiquitous in Puerto Rican households, Muñiz's radio scripts then became increasingly successful, beginning with El colegio de la alegría , in which he performed along José Miguel Agrelot. This was followed by La familia Pérez , Adelita, la secretaria , Gloria y Miguel and ¡Qué sirvienta! , all of which featured him in some function. He was producer or executive producer for dozens of television programs and specials between 1955 and 1995. At one time in
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#173277279084110664-583: The 1970s he was the owner of WRIK-TV Channel 7 in Ponce. In the late 1970s, Muñiz revived a comedy format that he had successfully used in three previous radio and television productions, the family sitcom. He produced and acted in a comedy series named Los García together with his real-life son Rafo Muñiz , and with longtime friend Gladys Rodríguez . Also starring were William Gracia as Pepín, Gina Beveraggi as Gini, Edgardo Rubio as Junito, Manela Bustamante as Doña Tony, Emma Rosa Vincenty as Doňa Cayetana, and
10836-479: The 1990s, Epifanio was paired with Susa Cruz, setting up a comedic duo that would greatly rely on the acknowledged sexual and political tension between the two. Jesusa Cruz Avilés was born in Las Marías, Puerto Rico . Nicknamed "Susa", she jokingly claims to be a distant relative of Tom Cruise , whose last name is a homophone of "Cruz" (and who has no relation with Puerto Rico at all). She is well known for being
11008-892: The 2008 general election. Four years later, the 2012 election saw the emergence of the Movimiento Unión Soberanista (English: Sovereign Union Movement) and the Partido del Pueblo Trabajador (English: Working People's Party) but none obtained more than 1% of the vote. Other non-registered parties include the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party , the Socialist Workers Movement , and the Hostosian National Independence Movement . The nature of Puerto Rico's political relationship with
11180-416: The 2024 general election, with nearly 40% of the vote, who is pro-statehood. Puerto Rico consists of the main island of Puerto Rico and various smaller islands, including Vieques , Culebra , Mona , Desecheo , and Caja de Muertos . Of these five, only Culebra and Vieques are inhabited year-round. Mona, which has played a key role in maritime history, is uninhabited most of the year except for employees of
11352-555: The 3 November 2020 general elections; the ballot asked one question: "Should Puerto Rico be admitted immediately into the Union as a State ?" The results showed that 52 percent of Puerto Rico voters answered yes. In the United States in the early 2020s, the Puerto Rico Status Act was being worked on by Congress, and H.R. 8393 passed the House in 2022- though it has not passed the Senate; this bill would support PR making
11524-609: The 80s and 90s Toño was the producer of the yearly top Salsa event in the Caribbean, "Festival de Salsa Winston" ; Pedro directed a dramatic film, Cayo . Manolo was a businessman before his untimely death in July 1995. Muñiz was an aficionado of baseball and swimming. Tommy Muñíz died 15 January 2009 in Hato Rey , Puerto Rico. Luz María García de la Noceda died a day after her 87th birthday, on 21 October 2011. ommy Muñiz's life
11696-610: The American continents. Realizing that it was in danger of losing its two remaining Caribbean territories, the Spanish Crown revived the Royal Decree of Graces of 1815 . The decree was printed in Spanish, English and French in order to attract Europeans, with the hope that the independence movements would lose their popularity and strength with the arrival of new settlers. Free land was offered to those who wanted to populate
11868-806: The Atlantic, is located about 71 mi (114 km) north of Puerto Rico at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates. It is 170 mi (270 km) long. At its deepest point, named the Milwaukee Deep , it is almost 27,600 ft (8,400 m) deep. The Mona Canyon , located in the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, is another prominent oceanic landform with steep walls measuring between 1.25 and 2.17 miles (2.01 and 3.49 km) in height from bottom to top. The climate of Puerto Rico in
12040-572: The Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. On average, a quarter of its annual rainfall is contributed from tropical cyclones , which are more prevalent during periods of La Niña than El Niño . A cyclone of tropical storm strength passes near Puerto Rico, on average, every five years. A hurricane passes in the vicinity of the island, on average, every seven years. Since 1851, the Lake Okeechobee Hurricane (also known as
12212-414: The Cordillera Central create a rain shadow and are the main cause of the variations in the temperature and rainfall that occur over very short distances. The mountains can also cause wide variation in local wind speed and direction due to their sheltering and channeling effects, adding to the climatic variation. Daily temperature changes seasonally are quite small in the lowlands and coastal areas. Between
12384-481: The PPD and PNP usually hold about 47% of the vote each while the PIP holds about 5%. After 2007, other parties emerged on the island. The first, the Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party was registered that same year. The party claims that it seeks to address the islands' problems from a status-neutral platform. But it ceased to remain as a registered party when it failed to obtain the required number of votes in
12556-409: The PPD as a movement instead of a political ideology, Epifanio's character sided with the soberanista faction, which in the past had included prominent Ponce Mayor, Rafael "Churumba" Cordero. This wing is considered the party's most liberal one, pursuing to promote Puerto Rico beyond territory status by replacing the current territorial clause with a pact based on the sovereignty of both Puerto Rico and
12728-503: The Premios Quijote were dedicated to him and Agrelot. Three months later, Muñiz published a cautionary article about the misuse of television programming, his posture on the impact that this had on newer generations and how the overall quality had declined. Afterwards, he opted to retire and spend time with his family and friends. Almost three decades after their conflict, Muñiz and Nigaglioni put their differences aside. Muñíz
12900-528: The Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk ( Buteo platypterus brunnescens ) and the elfin woods warbler ( Setophaga angelae ). The Northern Karst country of Puerto Rico is also home to one of the remaining rainforest tracts in the island, with the Río Abajo State Forest being the first focus for the reintroduction of the highly endangered Puerto Rican parrot outside of the Sierra de Luquillo. In
13072-473: The Puerto Rican people to exercise fully their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. In November 2012, a two-question referendum took place, simultaneous with the general elections. The first question, voted on in August, asked voters whether they wanted to maintain the current status under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution. 54% voted against the status quo, effectively approving
13244-646: The San Felipe Segundo hurricane in Puerto Rico) of September 1928 is the only hurricane to make landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. In 2017, Puerto Rico was affected by Category 5 Hurricane Irma and Category 4 Hurricane Maria , causing widespread and devastating impacts , particularly to the electric grid. Puerto Rico is home to three terrestrial ecoregions: Puerto Rican moist forests , Puerto Rican dry forests , and Greater Antilles mangroves . Puerto Rico has two biosphere reserves recognized by
13416-450: The U.S. Constitution . Laws enacted at the federal level in the U.S. apply to Puerto Rico as well, regardless of its political status. Their residents do not have voting representation in the U.S. Congress . 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. The U.S. Supreme Court has indicated that once
13588-699: The U.S. Constitution has been extended to an area (by Congress or the courts), its coverage is irrevocable. To hold that the political branches may switch the Constitution on or off at will would lead to a regime in which they, not this Court, say "what the law is". Puerto Ricans "were collectively made U.S. citizens" in 1917 as a result of the Jones–Shafroth Act . U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections, though both major parties, Republican and Democratic, hold primary elections in Puerto Rico to choose delegates to vote on
13760-472: The U.S. is the subject of ongoing debate in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Congress, and the United Nations . Specifically, the basic question is whether Puerto Rico should remain an unincorporated territory of the U.S., become a U.S. state, or become an independent country. Constitutionally, Puerto Rico is subject to the plenary powers of the U.S. Congress under the territorial clause of Article IV of
13932-496: The United States, while conserving some current aspects including citizenship, coin and defense. This posture was revealed while he worked as Epifanio in a play titled ¡Coge Cambio! from 2009 to 2011, and was made official with a "welcome card" issued by prominent soberanistas Carmen Yulín Cruz , Luis Vega Ramos and Carlos "Charlie" Hernández. While performing in character, Alicea became more vocal to this belief following February 2010, when an ailing William Miranda Marín , one of
14104-582: The Yoyo Boing character that defined the career of his interpreter, Luis Antonio Rivera. At the moment, Puerto Rican society was being forced to adapt to an industrial movement that replaced the agrarian economy that prevailed during the early years of American colonialism. It was, however, also a time of political unrest caused by the Cold War , the Korean War and the adoption of the Commonwealth and
14276-447: The administrative functions of his production company as to concentrate in scriptwriting and acting. Following the success of his shows, Muñiz incorporated Hernán Nigaglioni as the administrator of Producciones Tommy Muñiz. He joined Flavia García, who was serving as executive assistant. On July 10, 1968, Producciones Tommy Muñiz debuted the first local talk show, El Show de Tommy , with Muñiz as its host. García and López Neris completed
14448-592: The aged, including supplementary health plans and audiology services. Puerto Rico Puerto Rico ( Spanish for 'rich port'; abbreviated PR ), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is a self-governing Caribbean archipelago and island organized as an unincorporated territory of the United States under the designation of commonwealth . Located about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami , Florida , between
14620-473: The best "fritolera" (fritter cook) in Puerto Rico, having a reputation for having invented the "alcapurrias bisexuales" ( bisexual alcapurrias), named as such by Epifanio due to their ambiguous shape. As many cooks in rural Puerto Rican eateries do, Susa constantly wears a hair mesh. Susa is known for being good natured, naive at times, not too-well educated (words with more than three syllables give her trouble), for speaking atrocious English, and yet for being
14792-489: The business in charge of his sister. Wondering what to create, Muñiz examined WKAQ's programming, consulted his father and summoned his co-workers to La Casona. Two shows where then created, a television adaptation of El colegio de la alegría and A reirse con Ola , which aired in a prime time slot on Wednesdays and was hosted by Yoyo Boing and Cordero. WAPA-TV responded by creating Una hora conmigo hosted by Myrta Silva. Conducted by Mario Pabón, A reirse con Ola peaked in
14964-452: The capital city of San Juan where he studied. Muñíz developed an interest in the entertainment business thanks to his father Tomas and to his uncle and godfather Félix Muñíz, who also produced radio programs. Muñiz was a successful radio producer in Puerto Rico during the mid- to late 1940s. Five of his radio programs -comedies for which he was often the scriptwriter, sometimes with the assistance of Sylvia Rexach - would consistently earn
15136-473: The channel, while the Muñiz family was directly threatened along "Profe". In 1982, Muñiz sued MediaFax, the company responsible for registering television ratings, citing manipulation of the numbers. This eventually gained interest of the Senate, which launched its own investigation. However, the relation with advertisers was affected and Muñiz opted to sell the station in 1985 to avoid bankruptcy in exchange for
15308-409: The coastal sub-section of La Guancha , which is a working-class neighborhood. Since ponceños (the inhabitants of Ponce) have a reputation for being very fond of their hometown at best –and have a rather snobbyish attitude about it at their worst– Don Epifanio considers Ponce to be heaven on Earth, and is a constant promoter of the phrase: "Ponce es Ponce y lo demás es parking" ("Ponce is Ponce, and
15480-441: The comedy news segment Encabuya y vuelve y tira , Telefiesta en la tarde became the first daytime show to become a leader in ratings. The segment brought an increase in advertisers and despite Norma Candal taking over the role of maid as Petunia, its success continued and it lasted for 17 years. It also led to a spinoff, Criada a la orden , produced by González herself and which became the first comedy aired in color. Eventually,
15652-675: The commissioner's power to vote in the Committee of the Whole , but the commissioner can vote in committee. Puerto Rican elections are governed by the Federal Election Commission and the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico . Residents of Puerto Rico, including other U.S. citizens, cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections, but can vote in primaries . Puerto Ricans who become residents of
15824-456: The company gained a reputation as supporting work syndicates and were avoided. On September 21, 1976, Producciones Tommy Muñiz debuted Los García , a sitcom reflecting the increasingly changing dynamic of Puerto Rican families during the ongoing industrial surge. This marked the first time since the strike that a new production was rolled by the producer and also marked his return to the screen as an actor. It also featured his son, Rafo Muñiz, in
15996-489: The continuation of the original employees as part of an arrangement made by Pedro. The move ended the lawsuit, WKRIK-TV then became WSTE-TV and its commercial name became Súper Siete. The arrangement, however, limited Producciones Tommy Muñiz to the station until 1989. Disappointed at the status of the industry and the proliferation of what he regarded as lowbrow comedy, Muñiz entered a semi-retirement and spent most of his days at Culebra. Eventually, Rafo approached him about
16168-505: The crew. Hosting a number of artists, politicians and civilians, the show traveled throughout the Puerto Rican archipelago, from which it was transmitted. The show was also responsible for filming the first surgeries to air in local television. A visit by the Guyanese prime minister was also hosted after the nation acquired its independence. Muñiz also became interested in developing several acres that he had inherited from his brother. By
16340-474: The demands of the protestors, such as health coverage or six month contracts, but Reymundí was unable to benefit due to the cancellation of the production due to the strike. Producciones Tommy Muñiz was affected by it, with only productions like Esto no tiene nombre or Ja-ja, ji-ji, jo-jo con Agrelot surviving. Candal, Morales, Warrington, Carbia, Molina and García left to create Producciones Astra and joined Channel 7. This would only last for some years, since
16512-468: The dry and wet seasons, there is a temperature change of around 6 °F (3.3 °C). This change is due mainly to the warm waters of the tropical Atlantic Ocean , which significantly modify cooler air moving in from the north and northwest. Coastal water temperatures during the year are about 75 °F (24 °C) in February and 85 °F (29 °C) in August. The highest temperature ever recorded
16684-479: The early 1960s, five programs produced by Muñiz were in the top five television rankings in local audience surveys. One of the programs even spawned a 1967 film, "La Criada Malcriada" , starring Velda González , Shorty Castro and Muñiz, among others. He is credited for producing most of José Miguel Agrelot 's television programs during his career. He is also credited with discovering and promoting other television artists as well, particularly Otilio Warrington . In
16856-493: The entity in Spanish is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico ("Free Associated State of Puerto Rico"), while its official English name is Commonwealth of Puerto Rico . The Spanish official name was suggested by its architect Luis Muñoz Marín and adopted by a constitutional assembly on July 25 1952. Some authorities have called it a euphemism and have charged that the official name in English of "Commonwealth" constitutes
17028-399: The federal government, Puerto Rico-based corporations that intend to send funds to the U.S., and some others, such as Puerto Rican residents that are members of the U.S. military, and Puerto Rico residents who earned income from sources outside Puerto Rico also pay federal income taxes. In addition, because the cutoff point for income taxation is lower than that of the U.S. IRS code, and because
17200-460: The filming of the film, the improvisation of a court scene gathered the favor of director Thomas Schlamme. The film debuted on August 19, 1991. During the early 1990s, Muñiz was publicly critical of comedy shows that used war as a topic. In February 1991, Muñiz returned to WAPA-TV and produced Los primeros , a compendium of his old shows with additional commentary that lasted for some months. He followed this with his first miniseries, Nadie lo va
17372-822: The first airing on August 28, 1994, and the last on May 4, 1995. WIPR-TV displayed interest in reviving the series, but Muñiz declined. On July 1, 1995, Manuel Muñiz died, causing an emotional crisis in his father. It wasn't until September 3 that he made a return to the media in a special edition of El colegío de la alegría titled Cuarenta años no son na' reprising his role. On October 19, another revival took place, this time Esto sigue sin nombre , based on Esto no tiene nombre . Despite resuming his work, Muñiz did not abandon this depression, selling his Culebra house and walked away of television for years. Eventually, Rafo Muñiz convinced his father to participate in another special, this one dedicated to him, titled Los 75 años de don Tommy filmed for WAPA-TV on February 3, 1997, before
17544-404: The first local independent production entity known as Producciones Tommy Muñiz. The services provided grew to include representation and the hosting of activities by his artists, but focused on his radio productions. Among them was Sylvia Rexach , who also collaborated in writing scripts. Jacobo Morales would be among the public at WAPA Radio where La familia Pérez was recorded, since he knew
17716-435: The following five years he approached her, eventually convincing her after appearing at her house with a gift. They married in 1944, living in poverty for some time. Afterwards, Muñiz,Sr. loaned a large house from the owners of WIAC which became known as La Casona . He started by being the messenger of the marketing firm where his father and uncle used to work, and eventually became a radio scriptwriter. Muñiz sold his car,
17888-494: The founding of each of the island nation's municipalities. On their live shows they would sing parodies of Puerto Rican song standards ridiculing each other, and would make fun of each other, particularly over that fateful night at "La Hamaca". They have also recorded a Christmas record together. Velázquez tried her hand at entrepreneurship, and opened a night club in Bayamón, Puerto Rico ; she would try to cater to every segment of
18060-488: The full spectre of the Puerto Rican humanities' scene. He now voices his political opinions openly and vehemently, championing animal rights, drama and music classes on Puerto Rican public schools, gay and lesbian rights, better living conditions for the elderly, the HIV positive and children, and other liberal causes. This has somehow rehabilitated Epifanio's image among Puerto Ricans, dismissing his "viejo daña'o" antics in favor of
18232-415: The government to move rapidly to provide for the general welfare contributed to political activism by opponents and eventually to the rise of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party . On 7 January 2020, the country experienced its largest earthquake since 1918, estimated at magnitude 6.4. Economic losses were estimated to be more than $ 3.1 billion. The Puerto Rico Trench , the largest and deepest trench in
18404-427: The inability of WAPA-TV's new programming to compete with WKAQ-TV and led to a deal that was favorable for Muñiz's return. However, as the owner of a channel he was not allowed to work as a broker in both places and Producciones Tommy Muñiz sold material that was already filmed to the station. In this space, Muñiz aired Tommy , Encabuya... y vuelve y tira and El colegio de la alegría . The original plan for WRIK-TV
18576-514: The island. It is also home to 50 bird species, including the critically endangered Puerto Rican amazon . In addition to El Yunque National Forest, the Puerto Rican moist forest ecoregion is represented by protected areas such as the Maricao and Toro Negro state forests . These areas are home to endangered endemic species such as the Puerto Rican boa ( Chilabothrus inornatus ), the Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk ( Accipiter striatus venator ),
18748-518: The islands on the condition that they swear their loyalty to the Spanish Crown and allegiance to the Catholic Church . In 1898, during the Spanish–American War , Puerto Rico was invaded and subsequently became a possession of the U.S. The first years of the 20th century were marked by the struggle to obtain greater democratic rights from the U.S. The Foraker Act of 1900 established a civil government, ending rule by American generals and
18920-459: The largest minority owners of another channel, TeleOnce . In 1989, he and Rodríguez reunited to act in the movie Lo que le Pasó a Santiago , directed by Jacobo Morales , a longtime friend of Muñíz. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film becoming the first and only Puerto Rican film so far to do so. As a consequence of his part in Lo que le Pasó a Santiago , Muñiz
19092-597: The last election held in November 2020 . The judicial branch is headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico , currently Maite Oronoz Rodríguez . Members of the judiciary are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Puerto Rico is represented in the U.S. Congress by a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives, the resident commissioner , currently Jenniffer González . Current congressional rules have removed
19264-415: The last show, Morales approached Muñiz about entering the film industry as the titular character in Lo que le pasó a Santiago . Pedro Muñiz was brought aboard as producer. Muñiz also made his return to Puerto Rican television in August 1989, producing family sitcom El papá de mi papá and the comedy music show Carcajadas y algo más (along Rafo) for WAPA-TV, remaining invested in these projects for over
19436-463: The latter paid fully into the system. Tommy Mu%C3%B1iz Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez (4 February 1922 – 15 January 2009), better known as Tommy Muñiz , was a Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner. He is considered to be one of the pioneering figures of the television business in Puerto Rico . Although Muñíz was born in Ponce, he was raised in
19608-402: The laundry's patrons off. Epifanio had never married and his sister was divorced (she shared a bit of his misanthropy and had a hard time having and keeping a partner). Therefore, when they once found a baby girl inside a trash can in front of their laundromat, they raised her as their "niece". The girl, Chachita, turned to be a pretty, short, shrill-voiced teenager, who befriended Papo Tennis,
19780-438: The local market: from family comedy afternoons on Sundays to male stripper shows on Tuesdays. Susa Cruz would sometimes guest on some of the shows. The night club was forced to close after four months due to licensing restrictions (and some controversy from the club's neighbors). When most Puerto Rican television stations opted to reduce local programming in favor of syndicated shows produced elsewhere, Alicea and Velázquez started
19952-426: The logic behind the novela spoof was relaxed in a newer inception, "Epifanio's Laundromat", which was more centered on Epifanio himself. His attempts to attract clientele and sustain the laundromat would almost always have disastrous results. The owner of WLUZ-TV, Tommy Muñiz , grew tired of the constant struggles he faced to sustain his television channel, and as a result, sold the station to foreign owners, who changed
20124-431: The longest-running play in Puerto Rican history, playing over 4 1 ⁄ 2 consecutive years. After their "night at the latas ", Susa and Epifanio would hint on having had additional nights together, but would tend to be discreet about it (or at least Susa was; Epifanio would give away details to her sheer horror). While acting as Epifanio, Alicea has become a constant promoter of Puerto Rican artists and acts, covering
20296-599: The main trading/shipping port and the capital city. The island's name was changed to Porto Rico by the United States after the Treaty of Paris of 1898 . The anglicized name was used by the U.S. government and private enterprises (also Porto in Italian, French, and Portuguese). The name was changed back to Puerto Rico in 1931 by a joint resolution in Congress introduced by Félix Córdova Dávila . The official name of
20468-560: The moniker "El Viejo Daña'o" (from "dañado", which literally translates to "The Damaged Old Man"). The epithet "viejo daña'o" has since become a common synonym in Puerto Rico for "viejo verde" , the Spanish phrase used to depict "dirty ol' men". Given more physical space to act (since the WLUZ-TV's studios were rather small) Alicea then incorporated physical comedy elements to the character, some of which can be directly attributed to Groucho Marx and Charlie Chaplin , were somehow lost in
20640-588: The most dangerous geologic hazards in the island and in the northeastern Caribbean. The 1918 San Fermín earthquake occurred on 11 October , 1918 and had an estimated magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale . It originated off the coast of Aguadilla , several kilometers off the northern coast, and was accompanied by a tsunami . It caused extensive property damage and widespread losses, damaging infrastructure, especially bridges. It resulted in an estimated 116 deaths and $ 4 million in property damage. The failure of
20812-437: The most outspoken soberanistas in the history of the PPD, pronounced a speech urging all Puerto Ricans to look beyond personal interests to find the convergence needed to push Puerto Rico into the future. From this point onwards, Epifanio's posture remained clear and unchanged, even after the ¡Coge Cambio! tour had concluded. Jesusa "Susa" Cruz Avilés is played by Puerto Rican singer and comedian Carmen Nydia Velázquez. In
20984-453: The mountain housing antennas that transmitted WKRIK's programming and one of the technicians was a witness, in the ensuing coverage the image of Romero Barceló was linked to the controversy. All foreign programming was suspended, while the channel's programming revolved around the event. The process extended for months and it brought political tension against those involved in the transmission leading to several bomb warnings being issued against
21156-400: The near-religious. As a result of these cultural nuances, Epifanio would describe himself as " ¡¡Católico y Popularrrrrrr!! " ( Roman Catholic and PPD member), trilling the last "r" for emphasis (as the character often does). When reminded that Roman Catholics aren't supposed to be as sexually "damaged" as he is, he either changes the subject rather obviously (very rarely) or claims that there
21328-471: The nighttime block, hosted by Agrelot, Castro and Osvaldo Seda as the titular "geniuses". Muñiz then debuted a 15-minute segment known as La criada malcriada in Telefiesta de la tarde (with the help of his father on character design) with Velda González as the titular character Azucena, a rude maid, and Jacobo Morales and Agrelot in supporting roles. Aimed at the middle class and originally conceived as
21500-465: The parody, as to make it resemble the original but exaggerating its main story line as to make it absurd enough to have a comedy made out it. At the initial stages of the character, Don Epifanio had a laundromat, something that was unbecoming of his avowed origins. His sister was also his partner in the laundry's administrative duties, and constantly had to bring Epifanio to his senses, since his rather caustic sense of humor and constant anger tended to rub
21672-417: The participation of Rivera, Agrelot, Cordero, Castro and Miró among others. He produced programs for both major stations at once, which benefited programs like the latter two, which were able to dominate in ratings despite moving. During this time, Muñiz kept his programs relevant by pitching them to the other channel, as was the case with Hogar, dulce hogar which returned to WKAQ-TV. Ultimately, Telefiesta
21844-445: The parties' presidential candidates. Since Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory and not a U.S. state, the U.S. Constitution does not fully enfranchise U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico. Only fundamental rights under the American federal constitution and adjudications are applied to Puerto Ricans. Various other U.S. Supreme Court decisions have held which rights apply in Puerto Rico and which ones do not. Puerto Ricans have
22016-476: The per-capita income in Puerto Rico is much lower than the average per-capita income on the mainland, more Puerto Rico residents pay income taxes to the local taxation authority than if the IRS code were applied to the island. This occurs because "the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico government has a wider set of responsibilities than do U.S. State and local governments." In 2009, Puerto Rico paid $ 3.742 billion into
22188-399: The point of becoming an unofficial symbol for the party. The character has acted as comic relief on party rallies and fundraisers, and constantly dresses in red, the party's color. Alicea, who is actually a supporter of Puerto Rican independence , again used his father as a basis for this. He builds upon the traditional loyalty of older members of the PPD to Luis Muñoz Marín , which borders in
22360-507: The population applying for assistance after the storms. See also Effects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico It is thought that a combination of the debt crisis and two major hurricanes in the late 2010s, caused further departures from the island. Overall the population has decreased by about half a million in the 21st century, with many seeking better opportunities on the mainland. Puerto Rico held its statehood referendum during
22532-585: The practice. Her mild (and sometimes supportive) reaction towards this somehow hinted that she had at least a passing physical attraction towards Epifanio. Epifanio would constantly make passes at her, asking her to join him at "las latas" ("the cans", or warehouse space, at the back of his establishments), and pinching her, to the battle cry of "¡Te picó el juey!" ("The crab just pinched you!"). She would then either verbally humiliate him in front of other people as retaliation, or would physically assault him to keep him at bay. At times, though, sparks would fly between
22704-630: The pregnancy of Font, with the public responding strongly to the situation. Parallel to this, the couple had their first daughter, Luz Consuelo on October 18, 1957. However, two weeks later his mother died suddenly. Afterwards, the couple had its second daughter, Hilda María. Despite local television introducing more foreign programming, Producciones Tommy Muñiz continued unabated producing Lotus lo divierte (his first for WAPA-TV), Garata deportiva , El chiste Camel , Telefiesta de la tarde and Reina por un día between 1956 and 1959. Initially supported by three advertisers, Telefiesta de la tarde included
22876-538: The prime time slot Thursdays, and be host by a number of local talents including Agrelot, Morales, Olivo, Avellanet, Jovet and Logroño. Later, this space would be taken by the trova-centered La feria del Siete . The channel also acquired exclusivity of the investigation that the Senate of Puerto Rico held on the Cerro Maravilla murders , which established a ratings record for the channel. The case took place in
23048-672: The rating charts, which earned Muñiz personal congratulations from Ángel Ramos. It also won the recognition for "Best Comedy Show" and Yoyo Boing won "Best Comedian", while also serving to propel figures such as Helga Avilés and Eddie Miró , while its music interludes served as the debut of Cortijo y su combo. Agrelot returned to Puerto Rico during their peak and became the centerpiece of El colegio de la alegría , which had been recreated with him in mind. Muñiz had made several changes to El profesor Colgate to focus it on Agrelot's forte, giving rise to this adaptation. Producciones Tommy Muñiz also traveled Puerto Rico and made live presentations in
23220-471: The reaction that the Nationalist Party had to it. This led to a focus in the local middle class, from which Muñiz drew inspiration in his scripts. He created characters based on the average working class and placed them in every day settings. The first example was Violeta Flores, a representation of the jíbaros that were leaving the rural areas to settle in urban zones amidst the change and which
23392-455: The request and filed an injunction and lawsuit, which was won three years after the Games had been held. Considering it a bad investment, Nigaglioni refused to join Muñiz in the purchase of Rikavisión and both grew apart. With the death of a Ralph Pérez Perry, the channel began experiencing administrative and economic issues culminating the move after seven months. Eventually, these combined with
23564-587: The rest –of Puerto Rico- is parking ). However, he has since reluctantly moved to Old San Juan, Puerto Rico , where he currently resides. Epifanio is a merchant, usually owning kiosks, small eateries or clubs. Due to his age, Epifanio's hair is grey, although reportedly because of a toupée he wears to conceal his baldness . Most often he wears a red guayabera shirt with long sleeves. Víctor Alicea has repeatedly stated that he mainly modeled Epifanio González Villamil after his own father, with added characteristics from daily observations of real people. The character
23736-423: The second and exploiting the lack of exclusivity, exported Telefiesta to WAPA-TV (while dominating the ratings with several shows based at WKAQ-TV) on December 29, 1958, to replace Menéndez. Hogar, dulce hogar , El colegio de la alegría and La taberna India , also completed similar moves. Producciones Tommy Muñiz also began producing telenovelas , with Las almas no tienen color as its maiden project. This
23908-418: The second question to be voted on in November. The second question posed three alternate status options: statehood, independence, or free association . 61.16% voted for statehood, 33.34% for a sovereign free-associated state, and 5.49% for independence. In 2016, President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 5278: PROMESA , establishing a Control Board over the Puerto Rican government. This board will have
24080-496: The settlement of the Ortoiroid people before 430 BC. At the time of Christopher Columbus 's arrival in the New World in 1493, the dominant indigenous culture was that of the Taínos . The Taíno people's numbers went dangerously low during the later half of the 16th century because of new infectious diseases carried by Europeans, exploitation by Spanish settlers, and warfare. Located in the northeastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico formed
24252-670: The seven year-long bioluminescent bays in the Caribbean: Laguna Grande in Fajardo , La Parguera in Lajas and Puerto Mosquito in Vieques . These are unique bodies of water surrounded by mangroves that are inhabited by the dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense . However, tourism, pollution, and hurricanes have highly threatened these unique ecosystems. Puerto Rico has a republican form of government based on
24424-403: The show became a hit. A reimagined La familia Pérez named Hogar, dulce hogar replaced Mímicas del Monte , featuring the comedian debut of Shorty Castro and headlined by Muñiz and Luz María Font, who was recruited after casually stumbling upon the producer. The show climbed to the first spot in the ratings, remaining there for some time. During its peak, the script was modified to accommodate
24596-440: The show was renamed El show del mediodía . In 1966, Efraín López Neris suggested a candid camera segment to Muñiz and Modestti. After being ignored, he filmed a pilot for the concept titled La cámara cómica . Muñiz was convinced and the show would become his latest to succeed at the ratings chart. WAPA-TV's Panchito Menéndez y su gran show del mediodía was the first hour-long noon show in local television. Tommy Muñiz produced
24768-706: The size of Hispaniola and 8% of the size of Cuba, the largest of the Greater Antilles. The topography of the island is mostly mountainous with large flat areas in the northern and southern coasts. The main mountain range that crosses the island from east to west is called the Cordillera Central (also known as the Central Mountain Range in English). The highest elevation in Puerto Rico, Cerro de Punta 4,390 feet (1,340 m),
24940-465: The south, since the south receives less rain than the central and northern regions. Puerto Rico is composed of Cretaceous to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks, overlain by younger Oligocene and more recent carbonates and other sedimentary rocks . Most of the caverns and karst topography on the island occurs in the northern region. The oldest rocks are approximately 190 million years old ( Jurassic ) and are located at Sierra Bermeja in
25112-541: The southwest part of the island. They may represent part of the oceanic crust and are believed to come from the Pacific Ocean realm. Puerto Rico lies at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American Plates and is being deformed by the tectonic stresses caused by their interaction. These stresses may cause earthquakes and tsunamis . These seismic events, along with landslides , represent some of
25284-614: The southwest, the Guánica State Forest and Biosphere Reserve contain over 600 uncommon species of plants and animals, including 48 endangered species and 16 that are endemic to Puerto Rico, and is considered a prime example of the Puerto Rican dry forest ecoregion and the best-preserved dry forest in the Caribbean. Other protected dry forests in Puerto Rico can be formed within the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge complex at
25456-410: The sponsors followed them. His work soon lost its audience, with La familia Pérez at risk of disappearing and the radio stations in turmoil over the loss of advertisement. The family had moved to Floral Park near his parents, while he was increasingly considering how to deal with his future in other ways. While radio stations loaned their facilities for other purposes to survive, Muñiz decided to open
25628-479: The station's format drastically. As a result, much of the station's talent (including Alicea) were forced to migrate elsewhere. Alicea then joined Luisito Vigoreaux 's production company, and for close to twelve years starred in Vigoreaux's best-rated television comedies. One of these paired him with Velázquez, starting a partnership that has remained strong ever since. On the character's newer plot lines, Epifanio
25800-517: The station. On May 20, 1993, Muñiz returned to theatre in Rafo's play En un beso la vida , performing along his son and Giselle Blondet . In 1994, TeleOnce aired a special titled 40 Kilates de Televisión , produced by Rafo Muñiz to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the medium, where he performed along his son. The following month, he hosted another special, ¿A quién no le falta un tornillo? . A series of special revivals of Los García followed, with
25972-428: The summer of 1970, he had adapted a number of ideas and his ecological interests into a zoo known as El Monoloro . The facility housed lions, tigers, gazelles, zebras, kangaroos, an hippopotamus, an elephant, bears, a number of large reptiles and exotic birds acquired with the collaboration of the Guyanese authorities, but was headlined by the male chimpanzee named Yuyo . The ape, however, managed to escape his cage and
26144-435: The translation to Spanish of these comedians' work, and were therefore innovative in Puerto Rican comedy. Epifanio would also throw things on purpose and deliberately missing the target, a technique used by Cuban-born comedic actor Leopoldo Fernandez, Jr., who was very popular in Puerto Rico at the time. Epifanio would also acknowledge a stronger affiliation to the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PPD in Spanish), to
26316-429: The two, something which they would deny when asked about it. Somehow this blatantly antagonistic relationship would be sustained without either deteriorating further (or being consummated sexually, on the other hand) over their mutual programs' seasons. Susa would actually attempt to bring some sense into Epifanio's financial and personal life, with very little success. Epifanio would then claim he needed Susa, at least as
26488-618: The way for the drafting of Puerto Rico's Constitution and its approval by Congress and Puerto Rican voters in 1952. Puerto Rico is one of five territories with less representation in the Federal government, along with the Federal District. In 2009, the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization approved a draft resolution calling on the U.S. government to expedite a process that would allow
26660-465: Was 110 °F (43 °C) at Arecibo , while the lowest temperature ever recorded was 40 °F (4 °C) in the mountains at Adjuntas , Aibonito , and Corozal . The average yearly precipitation is 66 in (1,676 mm). Climate change in Puerto Rico has had a large impact on the ecosystems and landscapes. Puerto Rico experiences the Atlantic hurricane season , similar to the rest of
26832-429: Was a marketing executive who later became the administrator (and eventual owner) of various radio stations, as well as a radio producer. Muñiz was born during the 1920s, the same decade when radio first arrived to Puerto Rico, to a household of several siblings including Carmen, Marjorie, Nellie, Andy, Néstor and Nilza. Early in his life, Muñiz suffered from rickets. Despite this, he gained interest in eventually becoming
27004-402: Was abandoned and a variety of genres were seen in its first shows, La cámara cómica , Esto sí tiene nombre , Cocina con Henry Corona , ' 'Parece increible , Festivalito , Musicalísimo , El show de Carlos Busquets , Con Sandra and El show de Walter Mercado . Parece increible later known as Haciendo historia , a novelty show first hosted by Muñiz and later by Agrelot and María Falcón, was
27176-428: Was annoyed by the involvement of the advertisers in his shows. On August 1, 1955, Muñiz took over La taberna India after Rivero left the show. Américo Castellanos suggested to play the female character of Floripondia, a move that was considered in poor taste by the administration of WKAQ, but went ahead due to the producer's insistence. With the cast completed by regulars from other Producciones Tommy Muñiz performers,
27348-513: Was born within El Derecho de Lavar , a comedy spoof on a particular radio (later television) telenovela , El derecho de nacer , whose basic format has been followed as a formula for almost 70 years in Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and other Latin American media. The "Taller de Actores Puertorriqueños" (Puerto Rican Actors' Workshop), of which Alicea was a member, set up an entire story behind
27520-601: Was boycotted by some political opponents of it. (see 2017 Puerto Rican status referendum ) In 2017, Puerto Rico suffered back-to-back large hurricanes: the Category 5 Hurricane Irma (September 7, 2017) and the Category 4 Hurricane Maria (September 20, 2017). The storms caused an extreme amount of damage to the island, causing the following effects: all power was knocked out, 95% cell service, 43% of waste water treatment plants, 40 thousand land slides, 97% of roads blocked, 28% of health facilities damaged, leading to over 90% of
27692-531: Was contested by other European powers into the 18th century but remained a Spanish possession for the next 400 years. The decline of the indigenous population , followed by an influx of Spanish settlers, primarily from the Canary Islands and Andalusia , and African slaves vastly changed the cultural and demographic landscape of the archipelago. Within the Spanish Empire , Puerto Rico played
27864-431: Was ended in February 1981, when all of the productions were relocated to reinforce WRIK-TV, which had become the only local channel in Puerto Rican hands with the bankruptcy of Channel 11. A new noon show named Mediodía en el Siete was complemented by the arriving comedy Encabuya... y vuelve y tira , and introduced others such as El derecho de lavar which debuted the character of Epifanio . El show de Lourdes y Carlos
28036-687: Was eventually captured and sent to the Parque de las Ciencias in Bayamón, where he lived until his death several decades later. In 1972, Muñiz shifted its focus to raising race horses, a venture that gave him a Clásico del Caribe winner in Guaybanex. The zoo was open for six years, with several of the animals eventually being transferred to the Mayagüez Zoo. Muñiz also acquired a beach house in Culebra. In June 1995, Muñiz and his sons inaugurated
28208-464: Was featured in a radio show in which he played a man named Tadeo. Muñiz was concerned with the arrival of the new medium, assuming it would seriously hit radio and not expecting to have a role in it. The medium was received with some skepticism fueled by reports of losses abroad, but had a positive reception which eventually convinced most of its doubters. Radio suffered an economic decline when most of its established figures left to work television and
28380-538: Was followed by Historia de dos mujeres , Cuando los hijos condenan , Los Juanes , María del Mar , El silencio nos condena , Mami santa , Claudia y Virginia and Llanto para una mujer . Despite the latter facing issues with the increasingly successful telenovelas of WKAQ-TV, Muñiz went on to also produce Marta for WAPA-TV in 1973. However, this production actor José Reymundí began a strike against Producciones Tommy Muñiz and in particular against its administrator Hérnan Nigaglioni, claiming that he had been left out of
28552-429: Was in charge of administrative duties. Rafo Muñiz was in charge of promotions for the station and produced two shows, Los pupilos and Latino , later Son del Caribe , which introduced Héctor Marcano and Roberto Vigoreaux to television. After Channel 11 went bankrupt, Los Rayos Gamma moved to WRIK-TV, signaling the end of an estrangement with Morales. The group debuted on November 1, 1981. The arrangement with WAPA-TV
28724-455: Was married to Luz María García de la Noceda and they had eight children: Rafael (aka Rafo ), Ruby, Hilda, Mario, Luzie, Tomito, Manolo, Pedro and Félix Antonio (Toño). The birth of Rafael Emilio on September 13, 1956, served as comic relief for Muñiz, whose wife had been wanting a daughter for years. In their house, the couple also welcomed Ruby, the daughter of one of Muñiz cousins. Meanwhile, his children took several of their pets to create
28896-404: Was responsible for popularizing Lourdes Robles as a singer. Agrelot was placed in charge of the comedy Cosas del alcalde . Children's programming was first in charge of Sandra Seiter, but later introduced Tamborito y Colorina and Chiquimundo , the latter of which marked the debut of José Vega as in shows directed towards that audience. With a loose concept Los siete del Siete would take over
29068-513: Was selected to act in the 1991 television comedy film Crazy From The Heart , directed by Thomas Schlamme and featuring Christine Lahti and Rubén Blades . In the movie, Muñiz played Blades' father, a Mexican peasant with a proclivity for setting billboards on fire as a protest. The movie was eventually broadcast by Turner Network Television (TNT) . Muñiz Ramírez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on 4 February 1922, to Don Tomás Muñíz Souffront and Monserrate "Nena" Ramírez. His father, Don Tomás,
29240-544: Was still a misanthrope and was less racist than before, but would also turn out to be a geriatric sex addict , who would constantly attend the nearby "El Pocito Dulce A-Go-Go Girl Bar" , and hence would almost always be broke after spending his money in lap dances or the dancers themselves. Most often than not he would befriend "La Canita", a dumb blonde stereotype character played by Puerto Rican comedian Waleska Seda, who would live off Epifanio and get him into financial trouble. This penchant for promiscuity earned Epifanio
29412-413: Was the only program to survive this period. He also briefly produced Desafiando a los genios for the nascent WKBM. Despite the introduction of taping during the 1960s, Muñiz continued producing his shows live. Shorty Castro was part of the entertainment in this business with Googie Santana and others. By 1963, Muñiz dominated the daytime ratings, but Desafiando a los genios remained his only show in
29584-538: Was written and produced (by Vigoreaux and his partners) to capitalize on the reference. The first installment of the play was successful, and a second run, having little to do with the first play, was written with Susa and Epifanio in mind. This would make good use of Velázquez's singing and Alicea's dancing skills (he was a choreographer for Iris Chacón once). In it, Susa and Epifanio would at last consummate their physical relationship, not without some absurd situations thrown in for comedy. "Amor en La Hamaca II" would become
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