This Sunday

This year 2006 and for the second consecutive year in Panama, the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Food Program will carry out the Walk: The World in Motion Against Hunger, an event that makes the public aware of the problem of hunger, seeks to collect funds to benefit of the diverse programs of children’s diets in the region.

In 2005, 201,000 people in 91 countries walked and collected sufficient to feed 70,000 children during a school year. This year the goal is a lot greater, 750,000 participants are expected to collect funds in more than 100 countries, an increase in visibility with the media and to obtain US$5-million to feed children that suffer from hunger.

To achieve the success expected in Panama, the organizers are including the enthusiastic participation of each of the agencies of the United Nations, as well as family members of their personnel and friends that wish to be added to this Great Walk.

For information on the March Against Hunger Panama, there will be T-Shirts and caps for sale that will help collect funds for this important cause. Radio and TV slots will be used as well as the print media and the posters that are already being coordinated to support this activity.

To learn more about this initiative there is an Internet site at www.fighthunger.org where there are details on the walk as well as on activities worldwide. In the PMA in Panama comments can be directed to Carol Montenegro, ext. 3923 e-mail: panama.guest@wfp.org.

Walk Date: Sunday May 21, Hour: 9a.m. Place: Pedestrian walk of the Country Inn & Suite Hotel, Amador. Distance 5kms.

Reproduced from The Bulletin.

Expovino

The fair is at Atlapa Convention Center.

The wine fair, EXPOVINO, the fourth annual event, will take place at Atlapa Convention Center from May 18 to 21. This year the focus is on Spanish wines with participation of 16 Spanish producers. Wineries from Chile, Argentina, California, Italy and France will also have strong representation.

Entrance to the fair costs $2.00. Wine tasting will be offered at $10.00 per glass. All the profits will go to the Fundación San Felipe.

The four-day fair is expected to attract over 17,000 visitors with over 800 different wines represented by companies in Panama. Importers from other Latin and Caribbean countries will be among the visitors.

The organizers of the event are Panama City chefs "Willy" Diggelman, Rafael Ciniglio, Pedro Masoliver and Lydia Samudio who will use Expovino to kick-start Panama's first Restaurant Fair as a combined event. Food and delicatessen sections will enliven the event.

For more information contact Rebeca at 6640-1717 or contact the Vino Club at 265-1381. www.expovino.com

Raphael has been in the music industry for over 40 years.

Aficionados of romantic Spanish music will be delighted with the concert offered by Raphael on May 30 at Atlapa Convention Center.

Born in Linares, Spain, Raphael (Rafaél Martos) is one of the pioneers of contemporary Spanish pop music. At age nine, he won the "Best Child’s Voice of Europe" at the Salzburg Festival in Austria, however, he officially started his musical career in 1962, winning first prize of the Benidorm Festival.

In a career spanning over four decades, Raphael has toured Europe, Asia and the Americas dozens of times, performing in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, London’s Talk of the Town, the Olympia Theater in Paris, and Tokyo’s Opera Theater. Raphael has also enjoyed success hosting his own radio and TV shows.

Raphael’s entire career is summarized in 326 Gold Records, 49 Platinum and the world’s only Uranium record for selling over 50 million copies. He has recorded over 50 albums in Spanish, Italian, Frenc, German, English and Japanese.

For more information on tickets, call Atlapa’s box office, 226-7000.

The Amadeus Orchestra, a 25-member ensemble, will celebrate Mozart's 250th anniversary with a series of concerts in Panama City, and in the provincial towns of El Valle, Boquete and Sorá, among other communities. Its first recital will be at the Anita Villalaz Theater, on the French Plaza, in San Felipe (Old Quarter) on Thursday, May 18th at 8:00 p.m.

The series of concerts is entitled "Amadeus-Panamá" --a project that seeks to perform all of Mozart's symphonies this year, including the debut of the opera, Wedding of Figaro.

For more information, http://amadeus-panama.iespana.es

Some of the U.S. top-rated professional wrestlers will take part in the "WWE’s Biggest Party of the Summer", scheduled for Saturday, June 1 at Figali Convention Center, in Amador, at 8:00 p.m.

"The Undertaker", "Booker T", "Chris Benoit" and the current SmakDown champion, Rey Misterio, are some of the stars expected to participate in the event, the tickets of which are for sale at Video Avenue stores. Cost is $25, $50, $75, $100 and $150. For more information, e-mail to esther@showpro.com.pa

Choirs from all over Panama will take part in a "Festival of Christian Music", which will take place on Sunday, May 21st at the Balboa Union Club at 4:00 p.m. The event is a combined project of the Lutheran Churches of Panama and the Balboa Union Club, one of the oldest Protestant communities on the Isthmus. Admittance is free. Call: 314-1004.

Visitors are invited to the "Second Universal Festival of Giant Carriages" –an activity organized by Panama’s Hindu community, on June 10.

A parade will start at 2:00 p.m. from Plaza Edison on Avenida Ricardo J. Alfaro (Via Tumba Muerto), and will end at the Hindu Temple, (which is located on a small hill overlooking the Bethania neighborhood, off Via Tumba Muerto) where visitors will enjoy dance performances, theater, concerts and cultural exhibits from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Panama’s Hindu community descends from the thousands of laborers brought from India in the early 20th century to build the Panama Canal. A large percentage of Hindu citizens decided to make Panama their home after the Canal’s opening in 1914 and many of their descendants became prosperous businessmen. The majority of the stores located in the vicinity of Plaza Cinco de Mayo are Hindu-owned.

Poker aficionados are invited to participate in the "Texas Hold’em International Poker Tournament, to be held May 26-28 at Panama City’s Majestic Casino, on Vía España.

Approximately 160 participants from Europe, Central and South America and the United States will take part in the event, which is a satellite tourney of the "Majestic Poker Tour", through which, in addition to earning over US$250,000 in prizes, winners will get the chance to represent Panama at a major competition in Las Vegas.

For one hundred years J.M. Barrie´s heart-warming story "Peter Pan" has been delighting children everywhere. Movies, plays, cartoons have all been dedicated to the theme. The latest interpretation is "Peter Pan on Ice" which Panamanians can enjoy at the Figali Convention Center from May 31 to June 4. The thrills of a spectacular ice show, with its colorful costumes and daring leaps and twirls in addition to the well-loved tale should make for an unforgettable event. The show started its world tour in November in France, visiting Russia, Latvia, Poland, Italy, Germany before making its way to Panama, and thence to Chile.

Don't miss Hilary Duff's grand concert at Figali Convention Center May 23. This 19-year-old pop star has been a hit in the worlds of music, movies and TV, and is one of the most famous pop divas atpresent. For details call: 314-1414.

Indian-born painter Anindita.

Panama City's Torres de Alba Apartment-Hotel recently organized an art exhibit featuring works by Indian painter Anindita.

The exhibit proved to be a rapid success, since approximately 40% of the works on display were purchased within hours of the exhibit's inauguration.

A native of Calcutta, Anindita specializes in stained glass works with her own technique: pouring out the paint directly on the glass without using brushes or pencils. "Since there are so many excellent artists in my native city, I had to come up with something different," she said.

Anindita spends between two and three days on each work, which are the renditions of the images and faces that strike her interest on any given day.

Anindita, who said she was well received both by Torres de Alba as well as the Hindu community in Panama, has been on the Isthmus since last October. She will return to her country in early June before taking a job as a business manager in the U.K later this year.

On June 11:

Having a Pollera is more than a thousand-dollar affair.

Hundreds of Panamanian belles dressed in Polleras (accompanied by their male companions, the montunos) and many other regional costumes will take over Calle 50 in Panama City’s banking district on Sunday, June 11 during the "One Thousand Pollera Parade", which has become one of most colorful events in the capital during this time of year.

First held in 2002 as a welcoming event for the participants of the Miss Universe pageant held in Panama that year, the parade pays homage to one of the most ornate national costumes in the world –a hand-made jewel which, along with its trimmings, can cost up to US$50,000.

The Panamanian Pollera is a descendant of the Andalusian female attire of the XVI century, which has evolved to include African and Native American elements as well.

The One-Thousand Pollera Parade is organized by the Panama Government Tourism Board (IPAT) and the Chamber of Tourism of Panama (CAMTUR.)

(Those interested in these activities should always log on to the club's website, http://calendar.yahoo.ca/expatsinpanama for the latest developments.)

Wednesdays 7:00PM - BRIDGE PLAYERS' GATHERING. EVENT HOSTESS: SHEILA HAWES.

This activity is open to all Bridge aficionados (pros and beginners) E-mail: expatexplorers@expatsinpanama.com

May 18-21st - EXPOVINO & Restaurant Fair!

Where: Altapa Convention Center
When: 2:00pm - 9:00pm

EXPOVINO is open to everyone, not just merchants. The event is visited by over 15,000 people. The event also includes Panama's first restaurant fair, featuring some of the best establishments in town. Cost: $2 daily admission

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Friday, May 19th (7:30pm) & Saturday, 20th (2:00 Matinee & 7:30pm) only.

EXPAT EXPLORER EVENT NIGHT - Saturday 7:30pm Performance

"Into the Woods Jr." - LIVE ENGLISH COMEDY THEATRE at The Theatre Guild Ancon.

Presented by International School of Panama; this is an hysterical parody of the fairytale characters of the Grimm Brothers. Tickets are a requested $5 donation for the Theatre Guild of Ancon.

They expect sold out performances, so be sure to make arrangements in advance! For all performances, tickets will be on sale at the ISP office. Call 266-7862 Fax:266-7808 for tickets or for more information email Todd Apple at tapple@isp.edu.pa

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Tuesday, May 23rd - Expat Explorer HAPPY HOUR & SUSHI NIGHT (and other food)

Happy Hour Starts at 6:00pm
RSVP would be greatly appreciated! (please write to following email: expatexplorers@expatsinpanama.com

Now under new management, the Caesar Park hotel has invited our Explorer Group to attend a special Facility Tour, HAPPY HOUR, and SUSHI Night.

The evening will start at 6:00pm the Pool side bar

Thursday, May 25th - AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PANAMA INSTALLATION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tickets:$25 for Members
$30 for Non-Members.
Gentlemen are requested to wear coat and tie. Cash bars will be available in the reception area and in the dining room.

Purchase your tickets from any member of the new Board of Directors by Monday 22nd May 2006: Sandra Abell 315-0565 sandy_abell@yahoo.com or Dr. Charles Garcia 270-0931 / garciadentist@hotmail.com

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May 29th - Pizza 2 for 1 on the Causeway! Flamenco Restaurant Where: Flamenco Restaurant Bar near the end of the Causeway (covered patio attached to the general store) & behind Alberto's at the end of the Causeway.
When: Starting at 6:00pm