MARIANA LOOKS GOOD TO US, EMMA. BUT PAQUITA?

By Juan Montoya
We came upon a cryptic comment of AIM Newspapers crackerjack reporter Emma Perez-Treviño's FB page that left us perplexed.
Emma, in her own inimitable style, muses that perhaps Mexican torch singer Paquita del Barrio should be the Mr. Amigo 2015.
Now, we know that the next Mr. Amigo Association's next celebrity will be known as Mr. Amigo 2014 for reasons that escape us. This year's celebrity, Mexican soap opera star and model Mariana Seoane, for example, is Mr. Amigo 2013. Like we said before, maybe it's a Brownsville thing.
Anyway, Emma asks her readers for their opinion on he idea and she got a few responses.
"Paquita would be great para que les venga a cantar a todas las ratas con dos patas! Lol," quipped Lupe Fuentes.

"Ratas con corvatas," said Julie Guerra-Ramirez.

And added, Emma, "There could be decorated little rata traps throughout the county...imagine."

Now, as far as we know Emma has never really touched upon Mr. Amigo and has pretty much kept to the serious issues of the day. But that she did just points out the association some people have harbored about the local corruption and the criticisms heaped upon the way Mr. Amigo has conducted business in the past. Even before Seoane arrived at the airport (seen here with Mr. Amigo president Luigi Cristiano), Cristiano had promised that it would not be business as usual with the organization.

Yet, it turned out that the board chose yet another Televisa soap opera star to be this year's Mr. Amigo.

 Critics have pointed out that the Mr. Amigo expense report for 2012-2013 that under past board president Yesenia Patino, the organization spent more than $100,000 on a three-day celebration and – since they don't fall under the rules of a non-profit organization – they don't have to account to anyone for it.
Cristiano has said that the organization was a non-profit when it was under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and that the board is currently considering applying for its own tax-free status.

And he has argued that even though many considered Patino a bit "headstrong," she was forceful in her approach to the yearly event and claims that made her effective.

He has even revealed that the organization will establish a yearly scholarship to a Brownsville student concentrating in binational or cultural studies to complement the organization.

There is no question that the organization could use some transparency and that the students of the community could benefit from additional scholarships that would further their education. 

However, Cristiano should know that he has a big job ahead of him convincing the public that his organization is more than just a group that prepares all year and taps into the local business and municipal goodwill to host a week-long party for select members.

While some may disagree with Ms. Seoane's selection, watching her perform before the crowds yesterday leaves no doubt that she has a public following in the area. We're looking forward to seeing much more of her! Paquita can wait.