New tourism campaign launched: “Honduras, Everything is Here”

Laura Stray
Honduras This Week

Archive/Honduras This week
Small villages like Yuscaran could benefit from the new tourism campaign.

As more people are traveling each year, Honduras has decided to launch a new campaign to try to entice tourists: “Honduras, todo esta aqui” (Honduras, everything is here.) They hope that this will mark a significant change in
Honduran tourism throughout the next year. A country with so much to offer - lush beaches, rich culture, and warm and friendly population - Honduras Seems an ideal place to visit.

Th e s l o g a n “Ho n d u r a s , Everything is here” was created after Questions such as “Who are we?” “How do other countries perceive us?” and “What attractions can we offer to the international tourism market?” were taken in to consideration. Honduras wants to portray itself as the heart of
Central America, and to show it has the best of all the Latin American countries in one. The concept of the slogan is that one can visit Honduras and find all the natural and cultural wonders, without having to leave the country.

“Honduras, everything is here” was developed by Zeus JWP president and creative director Alejandro Irias, working with Ypartnership, the company in
charge of public relations for Walt Disney, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, among others. The campaign’s objective is to place tourism as the prime aspect of development for the country, showcasing the many different ‘worlds’ Honduras has to offer the tourist.

The 60 second campaign was viewed by over 500 guests, where they saw the promotion showing Honduras´ best attributes.

The audio port ion of the commercial is: “From North to South and East to West, you can taste a variety of different cultures, history and gain very different experiences throughout Honduras. From the Mayan Ruins in Copán, to diving in the Bay Islands, to trekking through the rainforests at La Moskitia, to the hustle and bustle of cities such as San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, there is something for everybody, and many interesting insights into the lifestyle of Honduras.”

The aim of this campaign, although primarily for tourism, is also to portray a strong image of Honduras, including the exports, athletes, and everything that makes Honduras the proud nation that it is. The promotion of this slogan will
be used throughout the country on packaging, in stationary stores and in newspapers so that “Honduras, everything is here” will be seen throughout the country.

In an effort to make this a landmark year for the development of the tourism industry in Honduras, the slogan “Honduras, everything is here” must be embraced by the nation in order to make the desired impact within the tourism industry. Honduras aims to make its country more affluent, and promoting the tourism industry is most definitely a step in the right direction.

This campaign is not only being presented throughout Central America, but also in the United States, specifically in New York. The campaign will be launched via television and radio spots to attract a wide audience.

Honduras, a country with so much to offer, hopes with this new campaign to become one of Central America’s main tourist hotspots, at both national and international levels.

Tony “The Tiger” Lopez

Courtesy Tony Lopez

Tony “The Tiger” Lopez is a three-time World Champion boxer who won World Titles in the Junior Lightweight, Lightweight and Junior Welterweight divisions of professional boxing. Tony compiled a pro record of 58 wins, 8 losses and
1 draw against some of the best boxers of his era. Tony beat the heavily favored Rocky Lockridge in what was named the “Fight of the Year” in 1987 for his first championship belt. Tony now does a lot of charity work in the Sacramento, California area where he now resides.

Tony came to Roatan to visit his friend Herb Morici, the developer of Pineapple Villas in French Harbour. They would both tell you Tony came to The Bay Islands to have a good time, but he also came here to start a boxing program to help keep kids off the streets, out of trouble and into the organized, coached and disciplined sport of boxing. Tony is a great, personable guy. I know that if he and the other prominent people on the
island get together and work at it, the boxing program on Roatan will soon become a reality.

In part 1, Tony talked about some of the specifics of his professional fighting career as well as details about his childhood in Sacramento, California. This is part 2 of our interview.

Roatan Bruce: How did you approach your fights?

Tony “The Tiger” Lopez: When I step into a ring as a fighter, I know I have trained as hard as I could. I ran as hard as I could. I dieted the best I could. I did everything I had to do to prepare to win a fight. I don’t remotely walk into
that ring thinking I might lose. When I walk into that squared circle, I am whoopin’ everyone and everybody. I don’t care who it is. I don’t care how much they weigh; I don’t care how tall they are or how short they are. It doesn’t matter anymore. I have already trained for all that. If it’s a tall guy and I heard tall guys are hard to fight, well I trained to fight tall guys. If I do it right, it will be easy. Nothing is easy, but it’s not that difficult. You have fighters, you have boxers and you have punchers. You have all types of fights, but you train for that. That’s what separates‘main eventers’ from other levels of fighters.

You see, first you have those main eventers. They are home town pleasers. Then you go to the top twenty or thirty fighters in the world. They are a little bit tougher. After you get to the top fifteen, they get a little tougher. The top
ten in the world is even a little tougher. The top five is going to be a little bit tougher. What do I mean by that? Before as a main eventer, you are knocking people out left and right. Fights were first round knock outs. They seemed easy. It wasn’t easy. I had to train just as hard.

As you step in with the top ten, they aren’t falling as hard anymore. Top five, you could hit them with a bat and they are going to be right there. What separates the top five from the championship is the top three. The top three, boxing is their livelihood. It steps up another rank to the top three. If you can
survive and get past the top three, you can win it. They feel the same as you feel towards them. I don’t get mad. It is my job. I don’t take my job outside the squared circle; it is what I do for a living.

Roatan Bruce: What is life like for Tony now?

Tony “The Tiger” Lopez: I run a successful bail bonds business in Sacramento. If I go to a nightclub, I’m not giving anyone dirty looks. Like I said, I am happy-go-lucky. I am talking to people. I am not one of the guys who wants to sit at home and think I can’t go out into the public. I can do whatever I want. Not because I am Tony“The Tiger.” No, because that is
me, Tony Lopez. Tony Lopez can do anything he wants.

It doesn’t matter where you come from. It matters what you have done with your life. I bet Roatan has some top ten contenders here, maybe even a world champion here. Until you actually focus and put your energies into a sport,
you will never know. Even today, I take care of myself. I work out everyday.

Success has nothing to do with how much money you have in your pocket. Being successful is doing whatever you want to do, how you want to do it and when you want to do it. If you are a man with no money but you are a happy man, you are successful. You can be a man with all the money in the world
in your pocket, but if you aren’t happy, you are not successful. I have been that man with no money in my pocket. I have been that man tons of money in my pocket, I said, “Shoot, I was happier with no money.” I had less problems,
that’s for sure. Being at both levels, I know what it is like to be at both levels. Just was a little bit easier when I had nothing.

Roatan Bruce: I think people need to hear that from someone who has had it all that happiness is a state of mind. It isn’t about how much you have or don’t have. That is an excellent message to hear from someone who has truly been there and experienced it all.

What were your toughest fights?

Tony “The Tiger” Lopez: Rocky Lockridge was a tough, physical fight. You got into that ring and you punched non-stop until the bell rings again and you did that for 12 rounds. The 36 or 45 minutes (if a 15 round fight) of fighting is easy. It is the 45 minutes of absorbing punches is what makes the difference.
That’s a tough, physical fight.

Then you have the John John Molinas of the world. They are boxers who are methodical. They move in and out and left to right. They make you think more. Boxing is like a chess game. It is to hit and not be hit. The first fight against him, I had a bad day. I won the fight, but when I have a bad day at
the office, the whole world knows about it. When they asked for a rematch, we fought again.

That was when I starting having trouble making the 130 pound division. I also starting getting up there in age. When we fought again, I got caught with an
elbow that blew out my right eye socket. I went for the next eight rounds with a closed eye and butt over the other eye. The only way I could tell the difference between the referee and him was the referee was wearing a shirt and my opponent wasn’t. I wasn’t going to quit. I’m never gonna quit. I had
to wait to get hit so I could see who to hit back. Finally in the 10th round, they finally stopped the fight. Thank God! I asked them, where were you guys earlier? The third time I fought him, I knew what to expect so I beat him the
third time.

You have different types of boxers. You have brawlers and you have your boxers. Your brawlers are easier for me. They stand in front of you and they punch. I think when I am in that ring that I am the toughest man in the world and I am going to punch with you. The name of the game for me is, never
get tired of punching. Hopefully, if me and you are brawling, and you get tired, partner, that’s your worst mistake because I’m not tired.

That has to do with how I train. I get on the bag and constantly hit a bag for an hour straight non-stop. I did it fast and I hit it hard. That conditions your body to do that. The name of the game in boxing is to hit and not be hit. Even today, if you throw ten punches, I will make you miss eight of those punches.
Ten years ago, you wouldn’t be able to hit me at all. If you throw one punch, I am going to throw ten. Heavyweights throw 50 to 60 punches in a round. Light heavyweights throw 100 to 150 punches a round. That’s the difference. The
heavier you are, the slower you are.

Roatan Bruce: Isn’t the champ the guy that has the chin of steel, who can take a punch? How did you deal with it when you got hit real hard?

Tony “The Tiger” Lopez: You hit the nail on the head. It is God’s gift. It’s not how much you can give, it’s how much you can take? Everybody can hit. I take nothing for granted. God gives you heavy hands or he didn’t. God gives you a good chin, or he didn’t. Just because you don’t hit hard, doesn’t
mean you can’t be champion. Look at Pernel Whitaker. Look at Sugar
Ray Leonard.

One day, you are going to run into that one guy that is going to hit you hard. It’s what you do when you are hurt. You can go to Youtube.com and type in Tony“The Tiger” Lopez and there are four or five fights on there. Rocky
Lockridge dropped me in the eighth round of my first fight with him. I got hit on the top of my ear. It put me out on my feet for two rounds.

My whole body went numb and my world was spinning. I had this guy who was trying to whip my butt right in front of me and I had to still keep on fighting. When I first got up, I may have looked normal, but my whole world was spinning for two rounds. You have to find a way to survive. That was
the first time I was ever down.

Bruce Starr is the host of The Roatan Bruce Show heard on 106.5 FM weekdays from 9 am to 1 pm. Please visit his website at roatanbruce.com to hear this interview in full or all previous interviews. Contact him at roatanbruce@yahoo.com with your comments or suggestions or if you would like to learn when he starts live-streaming his radio show to people around the
world.

AN ACTION WITH CLASS

Everyone knows God helps those who help themselves, but sometimes we
don’t know where to begin. In at least three previous issues we asked that anyone who felt they had been, or were being victimized with a frivolous lawsuit to come forth. We feel there are many of you out there and if you all rally around one central flag you may indeed be redeemed both morally and financially.

Some call it extortion some blackmail, but the pattern is always the same. Some hungry attorney convinces an individual he can make him some money by filing a lawsuit either for a piece of real estate or a labor claim. Just sign here and let us do the rest. Some cannot even sign their names so they put their mark. The attorney then buggers up the land so it cannot be negotiated and works deals with judges to prolong the agony. We have seen cases of extension after extension for several years hoping the victim will eventually be in a spot where he or she has to settle the nuisance claim in order to do some legitimate business. One victim paid $ 35,000.00 defending, then eventually settling a land claim.

Although Honduran law clearly states swift justice, with a judge or two in
the right places the postponements can go on for an eternity. They begin with
a worker cutting grass for a period of time then moving on to another job. The
lawsuit states the worker was employed for years and years and is entitled to
prestasiones to the tune of several thousands of dollars. If the landowner could only get the case before an honest judge, he could prove pertinent things such as, the man who signed the power of attorney had been dead some 16 years prior to the date on the document, the worker had taken another job and been paid by someone else for many years, the person claiming the land never owned the land etc. etc. However, they cannot get their day in court so the only way to clear it up is to pay off the nuisance claim and be done with it.

If you are currently or have been a victim of one of these actions within the
last seven years, or if you know someone who has, please contact me off line at dpearly@hotmail.com. We are compiling a list of people for a class action law suite that will be filled in Tegucigalpa by two local attorneys who are joining a law firm in Tegucigalpa. Let’s put an end to these crooks and their more crooked attorneys.

BIG POLICE MEETING

Coral Caye hosted a bevy of high-level police officials including one holding
the rank of General. They came to hear complaints about crime on the island and to work on corrected situations. A few introductions, a half a dozen speeches and then Chief Julio Benetiz gave an excellent Power Point presentation on what he felt the island needed in order to protect its visitors and residence. He was able to show a steady decrease in major incidents but warned the ongoing influx of mainlanders was a real threat.

The audience was again asked to help the police both by cooperating in giving
information to the police concerning any irregular activities, and with private
businesses contributing to help the finance the needed projects. A representative from Henry Morgan Resort donated some land for a police sub-station in West Bay and made certain the gesture was not to simply keep law enforcement officers near his property, but to keep them present in the entire West Bay area.

The whole meeting, by the way, was conducted with the aid of an excellent
translator who kept going from English to Spanish and vice-versa when necessary. The floor was opened up for comments from the audience, and several people voiced their opinions, some quite loudly and adamantly.

ANNUAL TRIATHALON

It happened again with hundreds of participants. You can always tell what
time of the year it is by the bicyclists cruising around the hills and byways of the island. Getting ready to go for the swim/bike and run contest. This is a good thing for everyone and for the island in general. Traffic was blocked for several hours but motorists totally understood and cooperated.

AN EXTREMELY PLEASANT DAY

The Roatan Woman’s Club (roatanwc.com) sponsored a family day at Las
Palmas in order to help raise funds for Familias Saludables, an organization in dire need of formula for mothers with HIV/AIDS who are raising babies. There was a small admission price that everyone could afford and a great BBQ plate, again reasonably priced. Attractions such as a real tall Maypole dance preformed by the local Garafuna people, a French Harbor ballet exhibition as well as a Kung Fu or Ti Quan do show. Music was provided by Carlene and Dave, and The Steel Pan Alley Band and the weather cooperated all day and night

AN EXTREME MAKE-OVER OR AT LEAST COSMETIC SURGERY

With cooperation from Dale Jackson and the municipal and John Edwards, a
beautification wall is right now being built to hide the trashy dump from passerbys. Arrangements are underway to salvage the salvageable and barge the remains over to the mainland. Now instead of having to say, turn in at the dump, go through mud hole and you will find the Riviera side, we can soon say, turn in past the beauty wall, through the sleepy town of Mud hole until you reach Castillo Bay and Blue Harbor and Corozal Beach and Turtling Bay and Marbella and Palmetto. Oooppsss, back up to Marbella where the Roatan International Shrimp Festival will be held this year. That’s on Sunday, June the 15th. HTW is promoting this event because it is one of the best Roatan has to offer and island wide participation is expected. Get your tickets early and save L 50.00 per copy.

ELECTION TIME IN THE UNITED STATES

That event in itself should not have a direct influence on Honduras, but it
certainly does. With unemployment up, oil prices up, home mortgages in terrible shape and problems facing the nation, people are frozen in time. The wait-and-see attitude Americans seem to be taking has slowed down the influx of investors to some degree. Local contractors are searching for new projects and website inquiries are way down. We urge you Ex-Pats to be sure and vote when the time comes. Sometimes absentee voters turn the tide. Contact the American Embassy for details.