[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 3027-3028]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING JUAN OSORIO ORTIZ, MR. AMIGO OF THE 78TH ANNUAL CHARRO DAYS 
                                 FIESTA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FILEMON VELA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 27, 2015

  Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Juan Osorio Ortiz who 
has been named Mr. Amigo 2014. A Mexican television

[[Page 3028]]

actor and producer, Juan Osorio Ortiz's distinguished career spans 
almost three decades.
  This year from February 22 through March 1, the cities of 
Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, will come together to 
celebrate the 78th Annual Charro Days Fiesta.
  Charro Days unites the bi-cultural, bi-literate and bi-national 
communities of Brownsville and Matamoros to commemorate our way of life 
and shared history and to celebrate the interconnectedness of our two 
communities. The Rio Grande, ``El Rio Bravo,'' on the southern border 
of the U.S. and Mexico binds our two communities--one region with 
family and friends living on both sides of the border. Over generations 
we have shared memories and built relationships that span beyond any 
line or boundary.
  The current security situation has strained our way of life, and 
those of us who frequented Matamoros to visit family and friends or to 
have dinner in the heart of the city have not been able to visit in a 
long time. In the face of today's challenges, the annual Charro Days 
Fiesta recommits the two communities to our valued friendship. We join 
in celebration of our shared past, customs, cultures and traditions, 
and to solidify our resolve for a better tomorrow.
  Every year, the Mr. Amigo Association Selection Committee names an 
individual who serves as a role model for the community. The recipient 
must be a Mexican citizen who has contributed to friendship and 
understanding between the U.S. and Mexico, and has excelled in their 
profession, exemplifying the highest standards in their personal and 
professional lives.
  Mr. Amigo 2014, Juan Osorio Ortiz, was born on June 24, 1957, in 
Mexico City. His passion for theatre started as a young boy when he 
would memorize all the lines and roles in school plays and fill in when 
someone was absent. At a young age, he went to Televicentro, a training 
school for actors and actresses in Mexico. His interest in telenovelas, 
or soap operas, was sparked when he participated in ``El Amor Tiene 
Cara de Mujer.''
  Working his way up the ladder in the entertainment industry, he began 
as a production assistant and had the opportunity to advance in 1986 
when he stepped in as executive director on the soap opera ``La Gloria 
y El Infierno''. Juan Osorio Ortiz has been an executive producer of 
soap operas ever since. In the past 28 years, he has produced 24 soap 
operas, including ``Mi Corazon Es Tuyo,'' ``Una Familia Con Suerte,'' 
``Tormenta en El Paraiso,'' ``Salome,'' ``Marisol,'' and ``Clarisa.''
  Today, we honor Juan Osorio Ortiz for his years of work bringing real 
life issues to the small screen in a thoughtful and engaging way. I 
join Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas in welcoming him to 
Charro Days.

                          ____________________