Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around the Republic, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. So we've put together a brief overview of some of this week's news headlines from Mexico and around Banderas Bay, community announcements, and some not-to-be-missed weekend events.

Beatles Tribute Concert for Corazón de Niña

It takes a large community to raise 40+ children... On Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm, the Music & Arts Institute of Xalapa, Veracruz will present a "Tribute to the Beatles" on the seaside Patio Los Arcos at the Club Regina in Marina Vallarta to benefit the Corazón de Niña Children's Shelter. This one and 1/2 hour-long concert is sponsored by Club Skal of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit with proceeds donated to help Corazón de Niña reunite siblings, dry the tears, heal the wounds, restore health, provide education, reclaim childhoods, make dreams come true and, ultimately, change the course of history... one child at a time. For a donation of just $100 pesos, you'll enjoy a selection of popular Beatles songs, while helping Corazón de Niña provide housing, education, food, medical care and love to young girls and boys who have been removed from shockingly abusive situations. For more information or reservations, please call Wendy Allen at 322-169-8836.

Tourism Yields Higher Profits for Mexico

The profits generated by international tourism in Mexico reached around 4.8 billion dollars in the year's first quarter, the Bank of Mexico revealed on May 12, 2015. The increase exceeded by 9.2 percent the number achieved during this period last year, leaving a positive balance of around 2.5 million dollars in the industry. The bank report added that the number of foreign tourists that arrived in Mexico between January and March also grew, reaching a total of eight million visitors. During 2014, a total of about twenty million international tourists entered the country, including travelers who crossed the borders, the report said. Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco recently reported that a total of 669,328 foreign visitors stayed in hotels in the capital city during the first quarter of 2015.

Admirable Cleaning Effort at Las Islas Marietas

The first official Beach Cleanup Network (BCN) event for the Islas Marietas was held on Monday, May 11th as part of the BCN's environmental awareness event. A total of 10 boats from the Coral del Risco Tourism Services Coop and Punta Mita Adventures carried some 50 volunteers to the Islas Marietas National Park, where they gathered over 30 large black trash bags mostly filled with plastic bottles. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of the trash was not left behind by the tourists who visit the National Park, in spite of the increase in visits thanks to the world-wide promotion of La Playa del Amor. The trash arrives at the Islas Marietas courtesy of the area's communities. Along with the bottles, they also recovered 'domestic' trash, including rusted metal rods and even a tractor-trailer tire. This event brought to light several topics worthy of further analysis, in particular the need for more public awareness regarding waste management in the Banderas Bay area and surrounding communities. There are now a total of over 600 people involved in cleaning the beaches of the Riviera Nayarit in 15 communities within Banderas Bay, Compostela and San Blas.

Mexico Opens Bidding for Oil, Gas Drilling in 26 Areas

Mexico has announced the opening of bidding for oil and gas drilling rights in 26 areas, the latest in a sweeping oil reform that allows participation of foreign companies. The National Hydrocarbons Commission approved the auction for the land-based areas in five states in southern and northern Mexico, which together could yield 35,000 barrels of oil and 225 million cubic feet of gas per day. This is the third of five sets of areas Mexico plans to auction in a first round. The previous two auctions were for areas in shallow water. This first round of auctions has put in motion the historic reform of the energy sector passed last year. It signaled the end of a period that began with the nationalization of the oil industry in 1938.

Weekend Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around Banderas Bay
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• Time to Eat! Vallarta Restaurant Week

• XXVI International Sports Classic, May 15-17

• 11th Annual Vallarta Altruism Festival