Francisco Alberto Martinez Immigration & Legal Services

23/09/2026

Celebrating our past time!
We celebrate BASEBALL!
We celebrate the ones that make it happen, THE PLAYERS!!!

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08/09/2026

PUBLIC BEACHES ARE OUR BEACHES ❤️❤️

1. The Beach Access Community Protests (Activismo Social)
Most prominently in civic discussions, "El Sombrillazo" refers to a series of peaceful, symbolic protests organized by coastal communities (such as in Bayahíbe and other tourist towns) to demand free, public access to the beaches.
The Issue: Under Article 15 of the Dominican Constitution, all beaches and coastal areas are public domain. However, private resort developments and commercial operators frequently block entryways or restrict access to local residents and visitors.
The Action: Local community movements organize events called El Sombrillazo (or El Segundo Sombrillazo), where hundreds of citizens gather on the coast carrying beach umbrellas (sombrillas) to plant them on disputed stretches of sand, assert their constitutional right to the beach, and petition government ministries to intervene.
2. Media & Morning Show Segment (El Mañanero)
If you hear the phrase on TV or social media, "El Sombrillazo" is a recurring segment on the popular Dominican radio and YouTube show El Mañanero.

01/09/2026

HISTORY OF RIO SALADO LA ROMANA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!

The history of Río Salado in La Romana, Dominican Republic, revolves around two distinct yet connected definitions: the river itself that shapes the geography of the town, and the vibrant, densely populated neighborhood (barrio) built along its banks.
1. The River: Foundations of La Romana
Before La Romana grew into an industrial and sugar-producing power, the Río Dulce (also known as the La Romana River) and its neighboring estuary, the Río Salado (Salt River), served as essential natural waterways.
Colonial & 19th Century Origins: In the 19th century, the river mouth served as a natural port for shipping timber (like mahogany and guaiac) cut from the dense eastern forests.
Industrial Emergence: When the Central Romana Corporation established its giant sugar mill in 1917, the river systems provided crucial water transport, industrial access, and port space for exporting raw sugar cane to international markets.
2. The Neighborhood: Growth of Barrio Río Salado
As La Romana boomed into a major industrial hub in the mid-20th century, thousands of workers migrated to the region from rural parts of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and neighboring Caribbean islands seeking work at the sugar mill or port.
Spontaneous Settlement: The steep banks along the lower basin of the Río Salado—just steps from the city center and the port—became home to an informal settlement. Working-class families constructed homes on the hillside overlooking the river.
Urban Challenges: Because the community grew rapidly without formal urban planning, Barrio Río Salado historically faced severe infrastructure challenges, including poor drainage, susceptibility to flooding during hurricanes, and environmental pollution along the river basin.
3. Cultural Identity & The "Pinta tu Barrio" Transformation
Despite economic and social hardships, Río Salado developed a resilient, tight-knit identity rooted in fishing, port labor, and local traditions.
Artistic Renewal: In 2013, the neighborhood underwent a major urban makeover through the public art initiative Río Salado en Colores (or Pinta tu Barrio). Local artists, community leaders, and volunteers painted hundreds of houses along the riverbanks in bright, vivid colors.
A Visual Transformation: The project turned the steep, multi-tiered hillside neighborhood into a striking mosaic visible from the river and surrounding bridges, helping raise environmental awareness, foster community pride, and draw regional interest.
Summary
Today, Río Salado stands as a clear symbol of La Romana's working-class history—evolving from an industrial waterway and informal settlement into a iconic, colorful neighborhood that reflects the city's rich culture and resilience.

29/08/2026

HISTORY OF THE TO OF ENRRIQUILLO BARAHONA DR.

The town of Enriquillo, located along the southeastern coast of the Barahona Peninsula in the Dominican Republic, has a history shaped by colonial maritime strategy, territorial disputes, and local coastal trade.
Pre-Colonial and Early Colonial Era
Before European contact, the Barahona Peninsula formed part of the Taíno chiefdom of Jaragua.
While the town itself was established much later, it takes its name from Cacique Enriquillo, the celebrated Taíno indigenous leader. In the early 16th century, Enriquillo led a successful 14-year guerrilla rebellion against Spanish colonial rule in the nearby Bahoruco mountain range, making the surrounding region a symbol of indigenous resistance.
Origins as Petit Trou (18th Century)
The settlement began in the early-to-mid 18th century under the French name Petit Trou (meaning "Little Hole" or "Small Cove").
Maritime Refuge: Early cartography from the 1730s reveals that French and Spanish sailors, turtle hunters, and fishermen used the natural bay as a shelter along the treacherous southern coast of Hispaniola.
Haven for Maroons: Because of its remote location between Spanish Azua and French territory to the west, Petit Trou became a hideout for escaped enslaved people (cimarrones) and military deserters during the late colonial period.
Spanish Translation: On 18th-century Spanish maps, the outpost was occasionally translated literally as El Agujero Chico.
19th-Century Administrative Evolution
Following the Dominican War of Independence (1844), Petit Trou developed into an official military and administrative outpost due to its strategic coastal position near Neiba and Barahona.
June 9, 1845: Designated as a military post (puesto militar) dependent on the commune of Neiba.
September 1863: During the Dominican Restoration War, the residents of Petit Trou, along with neighboring Barahona, officially declared support for the Restoration government against Spain, organizing local men to defend the territory.
April 1, 1884 (Renaming): The local residents petitioned the National Congress to elevate the town’s status. It was granted full municipality (común) status within the Maritime District of Barahona and officially renamed Enriquillo, dropping its former French name.
20th Century to Present
For much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Enriquillo served as the primary administrative hub for the entire southern tip of the peninsula. At its peak territorial extent, the municipality of Enriquillo encompassed lands extending all the way to the Haitian border, including what are now the municipalities of Oviedo and Pedernales.
This territorial footprint shifted in December 1957, when the Dominican government created the Pedernales Province, carving away Enriquillo's western territories to establish the new province.
Today, Enriquillo remains an important coastal municipality in Barahona known for fishing, agriculture (such as coffee, plantains, and fruit in the surrounding hills), and its proximity to scenic beaches like Playa Los Blancos.