The singer is also an accomplished actor.

Marc Anthony began his musical career in 1992.

Marc Anthony, one of the best-known tropical music stars of this generation returns to Panama to offer his latest hits. at a concert on Tuesday, October 4 at Figali Convention Center.

 

Born Marco Antonio Muñíz on September 16, 1968 in Manhattan, New York, he bears the name of his mother’s favorite singer --a Mexican ballad artist well-loved throughout Latin America— As his own popularity grew, he decided to change his name to Marc Anthony in order to prevent confusions with his namesake.

He entered the music world in 1992, intertwining his strong voice with that of Puerto Rican songstress, La India in a duo called "Vivir Lo Nuestro". That same year he released his first album, entitled "Otra Nota".

After a number of years on the main charts of the region, he married former Puerto Rican-born Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, with whom he has two children. After a much publicized divorce, he married famous Latina actress Jennifer Lopez.

CAPAC Expohabitat:

A country home in Boquete, province of Chiriquí.

Visitors and expats interested in purchasing a home in Panama will be able to visit with 250 real estate companies, developers and banks during CAPAC Expohabitat 2006, the largest fair of its kind in Central America and the Caribbean, at Atlapa Convention Center, September 20-24.

The fair is also for anybody interested in construction, home improvement, gardening and decoration. CAPAC Expohabitat was first held 21 years ago, organized by Cámara Panameña de la Construcción (the Pana-manian Construction Chamber).

Panama's real estate and construction industries are experiencing an all-time boom, fostered by a growing economy and the arrival of retirees and second-home buyers from northern countries. The area of Boquete, in the highlands of Chiriquí has attracted scores of residential developments for expats in the last five years, although also popular are Altos del María in the western sector of the province of Panama, the Pacific beaches region between Chame and Santa Clara, and Costa Arriba, in the province of Colón.

In the meantime, Panama City continues to grow to the skies, with over 100 high-rise residential complexes under construction, including some of the tallest buildings in Latin America. The suburban areas of the Panama Canal basin are also attracting expats.

More than 250 construction, real estate companies and banks assist to the fair.

Handicraft from all over region.

The latest techniques in crafts for children, Christmas and general decoration will be taught by international experts during the eighth annual International Handicraft Fair, scheduled for September 30-October 1, at Atlapa Convention Center, from noon to 8:00 p.m.

Lecturers from Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Brazil and Central America have confirmed their participation in the event, which will also feature foods prepared by international chefs. Admittance is $2.50. Call Atlapa's box office, 226-7000.

The tournament offers $30,000 in prizes.

Gamboa Rainforest Resort will host its annual "Gamboa Classic Fishing Tournament" on September 30 and October 1 from the resort’s marina. Boat owners are welcome ($175.00 per boat, maximum of 3 persons per party.) Boatless teams of up to two members can also participate ($175.00 per person, for boat rental.) The tournament includes a barbecue party and open bar, as well as a closing ceremony, where a total of $30,000 in prizes will be distributed.

Gamboa Rainforest Resort is a deluxe facility located on the banks of the Chagres River and Gatún Lake, offering guests a number of ecological exhibits and activities.

For more information, call 206-8800.

Panamanians in New York get ready for independence day parade

The Panamanian community in New York City will have its 11th annual Panamanian Independence Day Parade on Saturday, October 7th, on Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn at 11:00 a.m.

Also, the community will organize the Caribean Multi-National Business Conference in Panama City, to be held November 9-14. It will cover two important topics: the expansion of the Panama Canal and the Panamanian vote abroad.

For more information, contact Dr. Marco A. Mason, marcomason@aol.com

Air Supply brings back old-time soft rock hits

Music aficionados of hits from the 1970's and 1980's will enjoy Air Supply's concert at Atlapa Convention Center on Saturday, September 30.

This soft-ballad duo, made up by British guitar player and singer Graham Russell, and Australian lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock, met in May 1975 while performing in the Australian production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Later that year, the duo, along with Chrissie Hammond, formed Air Supply as a five-man group. Hammond left the band, to be replaced by Jeremy Paul in time for the group's first Australian hit single, "Love and Other Bruises." This single was followed by a self-titled debut album that reached Gold status in Australia, and later by their second album, "The Whole Thing's Started". Singles during this period included "Empty Pages" and "Do What You Do".

The group was establised by Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock in 1975.

The group was invited to open for Rod Stewart during his tour of Australia, and he was so impressed by their performance that he invited them to be the opening act during his tour of the United States. During this tour, Jeremy Paul left the band. He later played with the original lineup of the Divinyls, led by Chrissie Amphlett.

Their 1980 album “Lost In Love” released their music to an American audience for the first time, and contained three US Top Five singles, including the title track, "Every Woman In The World", and "All Out of Love," the band's only Top 40 hit in the United Kingdom, where it hit #11. It was quickly followed by three more hit albums, “The One That You Love,” “Now and Forever, “and “Greatest Hits.”

They continued to tour and record into the new millennium, releasing the more adult contemporary titled The Book of Love (1997.) In July 2005 they performed in Havana, Cuba, one of the first foreign bands invited to perform in the country. Earlier this year, they released an acoustic album, "The Singer and the Song."

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
English Literature Book Exchange (and drop-in socializing,) 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. at Siciliano's Restaurant (Next to Banco de China.) Bring an English book to trade on a one-for-one basis. Expats, new and "old", are welcome.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
"Bridging the Americas by Land & Sea", 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. at Miraflores Locks Visitor's Center & Open balcony restaurant Starting with the amazing Canal museum, the evening ends with an open balcony sunset dinner while watching ships transit the Canal. Admission to the Visitors’ Center is $8 per adult, and the buffet is $18.50+tax (Jubilado discounts apply.)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Happy Hour & Registration Night - Rino's Restaurant, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm ., at Rino's Restaurant, located on the corner of Frederico Boyd & Calle 49. Special drink prices apply. RSVP.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4
Happy Hour & Registration Night, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm at the Miramar Hotel. Tickets: $25 for Canadian Society Members, $30 non-members. Tickets available through the Canadian Embassy: 264-7115/9731.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
Day Trip to El Valle. Expect a full day of activities, including visits to the market, bird watching and mud baths. Cost is $55/person, which includes transportation and entrance fees Minimum10 people and a maximum of 13. RSVP prior to Sept.26th.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 9
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. EXPAT SOCIAL The biggest and best party for Expats. Everyone is welcome. Meet new people, share experiences, tips, & traps of life in Panama.

TravelMart 2006 ends successfully

The 30th version of TravelMart, one of the most important tourism trade fairs in Latin America, took place in Panama City last week.

Approximately 850 delegates, including 300 wholesale tour operators participated in the event, the purpose of which was to promote the most popular tourist packages and destinations in the region.

This is the second time the fair was held in Panama City, which signals the country's growing reputation as a tourist "hot spot". Nevertheless, Ruben Blades, the country's Tourism Minister, acknowledged that there is still a lot to be done in terms of infrastructure, especially in the interior provinces, as well as provision for more air transport facilities.

"We need to build more international airports, but also need to create more seats for tourists," he said.

TravelMart is sponsored by William H. Coleman, Inc., a Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations firm founded in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Panama has been averaging 1,000,000 visitors for the past two years. Approximately 700,000 visitors arrived on the Isthmus in the first seven months of the year, a 14.1% increase compared to last year's figures.

Sarah Hall at her Toronto studio.

Those attending the CAPAC Expohabitat home and real estate fair this week will be able to meet Sarah Hall, one of Canada's most renowned architectural glass artists.

The American Institute of Architects has awarded Ms. Hall the "Honors Awards" for her challenging and creative installa-tions within contemporary archi-tecture. She was honored in 1997 by the Ontario Association of Architects "Allied Arts Award".

Last year, Ms. Hall received a Chalmers Arts Fellowship to research and integrate photo-voltaic technology (solar energy collection cells) into her art glass installations. This unique fusion of art and technology is the first of its kind in North America.

Sarah Hall, a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, has established her studio in Toronto and keeps a busy international schedule with lectures, exhibits, aand projects.

Wednesdays are Jazz Nights at Casa Góngora, in Panama City’s Old Quarter, featuring the music of the Carlos Ubarte Jazz Quartet, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. These weekly recitals are organized by the Municipality of Panama. Admittance is free.

Casa Góngora is one of the oldest Spanish colonial houses of the San Felipe district. Built in the 18th century, it belonged to a prominent family by the last name of Góngora. It was restored in the mid-1990’s and transformed into a museum, art gallery, and a small concert hall, with capacity for 70 spectators.

For more information, call: 212-1350.

Coiba's flora and fauna at Bus terminal

Giant wild life photos exhibited to 200,000 passengers per day.

Panama City's Gran Terminal de Transporte has been transformed into an art gallery this month, with 40 giant photos of the fauna and flora of Coiba National Park. The exhibit, which features the work of photographers Alejandro Balaguer and Alex Schmid, was organized by Fundación Albatros Media and ends on October 31.

Coiba National Park is Panama's second largest maritime protected area and includes Coiba, the country's largest island, as well as dozens of islets of the country's southwestern Pacific coast. The bio-diversity of Coiba and its surroundings is comparable to that of the Galapagos Islands, due to its numerous endemic species.

Gran Terminal de Transporte is the point of departure and arrival of most of the country's national and international bus routes. It is used by over 200,000 commuters every day.