Coming Events

Calendar of Events

Concerts	Live Music
May 17 Concert Dinner at Il Boccalino Restaurant, with the duo formed by Gretchen Laffite (Flute) and Romy Hernandez (Piano). Cost: $30 includes dinner. Tickets for sale at Libreria Argosy and in the restaurant. Information: 269-9147 May 18 Los Plumas Negras and "El Cacique de la Junta", Diomedes Diaz, in concert at Auto Depot. May 28 Piano concert "Salvemos el Zaratí (Save the Zarati)", piano four hands recital by Panamanian performers Luis and Margarita Troetsch. At the auditorium of the Fernando Guardia Library of Penonomé at 7 p.m. Donation: $10. Information: 997-9530/ 1129 May 31 Reggae artist Sean Paul in concert, at the Figali Convention Center. Tickets on sale at Video Ave., general: $21, VIP: $56. Information: 264-3513 Jun 7 Concert of the Pacifica String Quartet at the National Theater, at 8 p.m. Information: conciertos@conciertospanama.org; 214-7236 Jun 16 Fernandito Villalona, Elvis Crespo and Wilfrido Vargas in concert at the Figali Convention Center. Tickets on sale at Video Ave. Information: 264-3513	Jazz Wednesdays every week at Casa Góngora, Casco Viejo – San Felipe at 8:00 p.m. Information: culturad@municipio-pma.gob.pa 212-1350. Jazz Nights on Thursdays and Fridays at 10 p.m.every week at Bar La Platea, in Casco Antiguo. Information: www.scenaplatea.com, 228-4011
	Spectacles
	Jun 5 – 10 Looney Tunes On Ice with the show "Around the World in 80 Minutes" at Figali Convention Center. Tickets: From $9, on sale at Video Ave. Information: 264-3513 Jun 9 – 10 Musical show for children, "Barney's Musical Castle" at the Anayansi Theater Atlapa Convention Center. Tickets for sale at Blockbuster; $60, $40, $25 and $15. In aid of the Panamanian Red Cross. Information: 229-9197
	Theater
	(English only/ Inglés solamente) Theater Guild May 23 - 27 "HONK! jr", the story of 'Ugly' the duck. Directed by Charles Todd Apple, music direction of Luis Zúñiga and choreography by Ana Lorena Quijano. Musical play performed by students of the International School of Panama. Donation: $10 with performances at 7:30 p.m and 2 p.m. on 26 and 27 of May. Reservations and information: 226-1057/ 6627/ 0507 or rmbarrera@cableonda.net
Folklore Shows	Art
Coloful folklore shows at Restaurante "Al Tambor de la Alegría, located at Brisas de Amador, every Thuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 p.m. Admittance: $10.00 per person. Call: 314-3380. Folklore spectacles from all regions of Panama at Restaurante Tinajas, every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 p.m. Located on Calle 51, Bella Vista. Call: 263-7890. Folklore dance performances at Mi Pueblito tourist complex, at 6:00 p.m., featuring Hispanic, Afro-Caribbean and Native American dances. The center is located on 4th of July Avenue. Call 228-7154.	Permanent Exhibition The artist Jean Francois Provost will exhibit his work at Weil Art gallery, 48 Street, Bella Vista (beneath Eurasia). He will change his pieces every month. Information: 264-9697 Until May 24 Painting exhibit "Voluptuous Feelings" by the artist Omar García, at Imagen Art Gallery. Information: 226-2649 Until Jun Exhibit "Women", featuring works of 20 female artists, at Arlene Lachman gallery. Information: 264-5257. Until Jun Painting, sculptures and handicrafts exhibit from the 9th National Art Worker contest, at the Museum House of the National Bank of Panama, located in the 43rd Street and Justo Arosemena Ave. Information: 205-2000.
Horse Races
May 2 "Roberto 'Bob' Barrios No. 1" classic with $10,000 in 1,700 mts for all three-year-old horses. Information: 217-6060. Races on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in Presidente Remón race track. Call 217-6060.
Miscelaneous	Sports
May 24 American Society of Panama Installation of Board of Directors at Sheraton Panama Hotel & Convention Center at 7 p.m. Tickets: $25 members, $30 non-members; includes buffet dinner. Information: american.society.panama@gmail.com May 28 – 29 Lecture entitled "Project Management on Information Technologies", at Crown Plaza Hotel from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: 226-0086, msimons@project-am.net May 30 Medical Clinic of the SocialClubVIP, former Famili Club, for all 40-year-old persons, in the Lounge of the Siete Mares Restaurant. From 6 to 9 p.m. Cost: $24, includes dinner and prizes. Information: 260-7529 Jun. 3 – 5 Foreign Trade Latin American Congress, sponsored by the Latin American Bank Federation (FELABAN) at the Marriott Hotel of Panama City. Information: www.asociacionbancaria.com/eventos.htm Jun. 14 – 15 4th American Congress of Gambling Regulation, at the Atlapa Convention Center, from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information: www.grpinversiones.com, info@grpinversiones.com	May 2 Race of Corredores del Istmo 5 km at Power Club. Starts at 7:30 a.m. Information: Beby Miró 6614-8421; Jorge Lombardo 6612-5715 May 27 Race of Corredores del Istmo 15 km and 4 km at Clayton. Starts at 6:30 a.m. Information: Beby Miró 6614-8421; Jorge Lombardo 6612-5715 May 26 – 27 "Yamaha/ Boca Chica Fishing Tournament 2007", with $5,000 in prizes. Information: 774-3880 Jun 2 Boxing at the Roberto Mano de Piedra Durán Gymnasium "Herencia de Campeones", featuring as the main event the fight between the Panamanian Chemito Moreno and Mexican Tomás Rojas for the FedeCaribe Title of the AMB. Tickets: $3 and VIP: $35
	Country Festivals
	Until May 21 Capira Fair at Villa Rosario with food, handicrafts, music and folkloric performances. Call IPAT 526-7000 or informacion@ipat.gob.pa
Future Events	Fairs
Jun. 3 – 5 Foreign Trade Latin American Congress, sponsored by the Latin American Bank Federation (FELABAN) at Marriott Hotel of Panama City. Information: www.asociacionbancaria.com/eventos.htm Jul. 6 – 8 Convivienda 2007 Fair at the Islas of Atlapa Convention Center, Panama City. Information: www.convivienda.com Jul. 10 – 12 Expo America of Stationary 2007, Salon Vasco Núñez de Balboa of Hotel El Panama, Panama City. Information: www.expoamericadepapeleria.com Jul. 13 – 15 Baby Fair in David, province of Chiriqui. Starting at 1 p.m. at the Don Ramón Salon of the David Fair grounds. More information: www.expoeventos.com.pa Jul. 13 – 15 The Third ExpoCamara 2007 at Atlapa Convention Center, Panama City. Information: www.expocamara.org Jul. 13 – 15 The Third ExpoCamara 2007 at Atlapa Convention Center, Panama City. Information: www.expocamara.org Jul. 25 – 28 FIHNEC World Convention (Fraternidad Internacional de Hombres de Negocios de Panamá) 2007, at Atlapa Convention Center, Panama City. Information: 236-2996, www.passport2panama.com/fihnec/index.html Aug./ Ago. 22 – 24 XI Congress of the Hemisphere for Prevention of Money Laundering, Hotel Sheraton, Panama City. Info: www.asociacionbancaria.com/congreso.htm Aug./ Ago. 29 – Sept. 2 Bello Hogar 2007 at Atlapa Convention Center, Panama City. Information: www.gfce.org/bellohogar2007 Sept. 26 – 30 Capac Expohabitat 2007 at Atlapa Convention Center, Panama City. Information: www.capacexpo.com Oct. 17 –18 Expologística Panamá 2007 at El Panama Hotel. Information: 207-3433, expologistica@panacamara.org	Until May 2 The Book Fair at Atlapa Convention Center, starting at 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Information: 526-7112 May 26 – 27 7th Black Ethnic Festival, with conferences, folkloric performances, music, tours, and artistic performances. The main event will take place in Paradise Banquet Hall of Galería Obarrio. Cost: $25 and $30. More information: 233-5188. From Jun Architecture, Design and Decoration Fair in aid of Amanecer Foundation. At the Santo Tomás Hospital. Information: 226-3195 / 226-8189
	Outdoors & Extreme Sports
	May 19 – 20 Camping and archeology at Sitio Barriles. Cost: $ 45.00. Information: 6524-2802, panamarovers@hotmail.com

Spain: guest country at International Book Fair

The organizers of Panama's fourth International Book Fair, that started on May 15 and will run until may 20 at Atlapa Convention Center, are expecting an attendance of 100,000.

Taking place every two years, the fair is a long-awaited event for thousands of middle-class Panamanian families seeking new educational tools for their children.

The fair, however, is not only about text books. It is a a cultural "fiesta" in which visitors and expats are welcomed, not only due to the large number of English-language titles available, but also to the large variety of music and theater performances plannned. One of the entertainment highlights of the fair will be the performance of Flamenco singer Diego "El Cigala".

Panamanian writer Carlos Wynter Melo, who is one of the top 39 writers of Latin America, will present his new work "El niño que tocó luna" at’s the fair.

This year's "guest country" is Spain, which will be represented by a team of award-winning authors, publishers and journalists, including Lucía Etchevarría (winner of the Planeta Award), Javier Reverte, Clara Sánchez, Albert Figueras, José del Val, and movie producer Carmen Labrador. Novelists, poets and journalist from Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador and Costa Rica will offer a series of lectures and conferences on the latest literary trends in the region.

The 2007 International Book Fair, is 40% larger than the previous version of the event, as it will feature 233 stands. Back in 2005, over 12,000 books were sold, representing $1.1 million in sales.

Las Tablas Pollera festival

Señorita María Victoria Barrios Cedeño. The National Festival of the Pollera will be celebrated in Las Tablas, July 13-22 and playing a starring role will be Señorita Victoria Barrios Cedeño who has been elected Festival Queen.

The celebration starts Friday July 13 with a parade through the a principal streets of the town. During the month the festival will be enlivened with a national violin contest and a Camisilla (shirt) and sombrero contest. The sombrero event will be in two categories, luxury (white or colored) and regular (rush). A good time to chose a new piece of headgear.

The festival ends on July 22.

Beauty crown up for grabs

Ten Panamanian beauties, aged from 19 to 25 will be vying this month for the opportunity to become Miss International Panama 2007 and the right to compete for the world crown in Tokyo, Japan.

The judging will take place at the Panama Hotel Convention Center in the evening May 22.

Around the world in 80 minutes

In June, the amusing characters of Warner Brother's Looney Tunes, will entertain, both kids and grownups, with the presentation of the show "Looney Tunes On Ice: Around the world in 80 minutes".

The event, presented by Showpro from June 5 - 10 (Monday - Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Weekends at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.) in the Figali Convention Center, will offer a funny adaptation on ice of the masterpiece of Jules Verne.

Joined by Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Daffy Duck and Silvester, the main characters Phileas Fogg and Passepartout, will travel the five continents in record time with lots of adventures on the way.

Tickets for the event are already on sale in the Video Avenue stores. Prices vary from $9 - $39.

For additional information call Showpro offices at 279-0302.

Expat News

May 26 12:00 p.m.
Seventh Annual Black Ethnic Festival - Afro- Panamanian Culture Conference at St. Christopher Episcopal School, located in 10 St. Parque Lefevre.

May 27 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
English Literature Book Exchange (and drop-in socializing) in Siciliano's Restaurant located on Manuel Maria Icaza St, next to the Bank of China.

May 27 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Seventh Annual Black Ethnic Festival at the Paradise Banquet Hall in Galerias Obarrio, Via España and Via Brasil.

Cine Universitario

Mayo 2007

TANDAS: 4:00 / 6:00 / 8:00 p.m.
TEL.: 264-2737 / 223-9324
PRECIOS: $2.00 / $1.00 (estudiantes nacionales o extranjeros con carnet)

EUROPEAN CINEMA

May 18 – 19

THE TERRIBLE GIRL (Germany, 1990) dramatic comedy by Michael Verhoeven. with Lena Stolze, Monika Baumgartner, Michael Gahr. A student tries to write an essay about the town she came, from during Nazism, creating a scandalous crisis. 92'

May 20: (Classic Sundays 2 x 1)

4pm – FANTOMAS AGAINST FANTOMAS (France, 1914) With René Navarre and Georges Melchior. Continuing with criminal life, Fantomas defames inspector Juve, who is taken to jail. FANTOMAS: THE FALSE JUDGE (France, 1914) With René Navarre and Georges Melchior. Juve conceives a plan and let Fantomas escape from jail, but he assumes the identity of a judge.

6:30pm – THE 39 STEPS (United Kingdom, 1935) Dir. Alfred Hitchcock. With Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll. An inocent man is charge with a crime.

8:00pm – DRAG BY AN UNUSUAL DESTINY AT THE BLUE SEA OF AUGUST (Italy, 1974) With Giancarlo Gianni, Mariangela Melato. Dramatic comedy on a lonely island, a communist sailor subjugates his bourgeois boss. Subtitles in English.

May 21 – 23

IRREVERSIBLE (France, 2002) drama by Gaspar Noé. With Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, Albert Dupontel. A woman raped by a stranger and her friend, decides to take justice into his own hands. A series of events are narrated retrospectively. 97’

May 24 (4:30 p.m. e inauguración: 7:30 p.m.)

EXHIBIT OF WORKS BY PANAMANIAN DIRECTORS GRADUATED FROM THE CINEMATOGRAPHIC SCHOOL OF CUBA (EICTV)

Orientations are orientations (2001) Dir. by José Luis Rodríguez and Edgar Soberón Torchia. 21'. From 4 to Eight (1989) Dir: Carlos Arango de Montis. 10'. Plows from the memory (2005) Producer: José Ángel Canto Sierra. 10'. Macondo (1989) Dir: Carlos Aguilar Navarro. 13'. The Traveler (2000) Dir: Ana Endara Mislov. 10'. The Big Mother (2003) Dir: Jeico Castro Ferrari. 12'. Beneath Habana (2003) Producer: Ariel Higuera Bellido; editor: Laura Fong. 13'.

May 25

Program 1: Regression, Dir: Basilio García (Cuba, 1992), fiction. With Jorge Perugorría, Tania Ceballos, Francisco Gattorno. 7’. The Marcian Invader 36 Years Later, Dir: Wolney Oliveira (Brazil, 1989), documentary. 13’. Tears at breakfast, Dir: Carlos Walter Rojas (Colombia, 1989), fiction. With Daisy Granados, Edgar Soberón Torchia, Carlos Walter Rojas, Benjamín Jiménez. 13’. Ernest, my friend, Dir: Jakov Dakovc (Yugoslavia, 1998), documentary. 12’. The Last Wagon, Dir: Osvaldo Daicich (Argentina, 2001), fiction. With José Antonio Rodríguez, Carlos Alberto Fernández, Paula Alí. 26’. The Ones Left Behind, Dir: Benito Zambrano (Spain, 1993), documentary. 26’. Across the Sea, Dir: Patricia Ortega (Venezuela, 2005), fiction. With Blanca Castellano, Carla Colina, María Carolina Salas, José A. Toledano. 12’. Total Duration: 109’

May 26

Program 2: BETHLEHEM NEIGHBORHOOD, Dir: Marité Ugás (Perú, 1988), documentary. 16’. Dark Rhinoceros in a Cage, Dir: Juan Carlos Cremata (Cuba, 1990), fiction. With Paula Alí, Elién Martínez, Sandra Ibarra. 18’. Havana Cigar, Dir: Daniel Rocha (Brazil, 1999), fiction. With Miguel Benavídes, Jorge Prieto, Maiquelin Quintero. 10’. Discodecade, Dir: Natalia Cabral (Dominican Republic, 2005), documentary. 12’. Shells, Dir: Mariana Rondón (Venezuela, 1990), fiction. With María Elena Diardes, Andrés Viera, Lázaro Núñez. 14’. José Manuel, the Mule and the TV, Dir: Elsa Cornevin (France, 2003), documentary. 14’. Piscis, Dir: Paola Castillo (Chile, 1994), fiction. With Thais Valdés, Rolando Tarajano, Verónica Lynn. 25’. Total Duration: 109’

May 27

Program 3: MOLINA’S FAULT, Dir: Jorge Molina (Cuba, 1993), fiction. With Luis Enrique Roldán, Idalmis del Risco, Jorge Molina. 18’. Sonata for Arcadius, Dir: Fernando Timossi (Cuba, 1989), documentary. 17’. The Bloody Circumstance, Dir: Eduardo Eimil (Cuba, 2002), fiction. With Mario Guerra, Natasha Díaz, Esther Cardoso. 11’. The Ground and the Sky, Dir: Marcos Pimentel (Brazil, 2004), documentary. 26’. People that Cry Inc., Dir: Hatem Khraiche Ruiz-Zorrilla (Spain, 2001), fiction. With Mirta Ibarra, Luis Alberto García, Corina Mestre. 16’. Houses on Screen, Dir: Nelson Oyarzúa (Chile, 2004), documentary. 10’. Molina’s Solaris, Dir: Jorge Molina (Cuba, 2006), fiction. With Ricardo Becerra, Juliet Cruz. 26’. Total Duration: 124’

May 28 – 29

BUTTERFLY TONGUES (Spain, 1999) drama by José Luis Cuerda. With Fernando Fernán Gómez, Manuel Lozano, Uxía Blanco. During the Spanish civil war a boy and his teacher become friends, a relationship that the conflict will ruin. 95’

May 30 – 31

IN THIS WORLD (United Kingdom, 2002) drama by Michael Winterbottom. With JamalUdin Torabi, Enayatullah Jumaudin, Nabil Elouhabi. Two teenage refugees from Afghanistan try to escape to England, across Europe with the help of people trafficker. 88’

Mr. Panama Finals

The final of the Mr. Panama contest will be held on Thursday, May 24 at the Vasco Núñez de Balboa Convention Center at 8:00 p.m. The invited artists are Eddy Lover and Los Nenes. Tickets are available at Blockbuster outlets.

Nutcracker Auditions

A little early for Christmas and the Nutcracker? Not if you are looking to get a role in Panama's production under the direction of Marek Cholewa.

The auditions for the famous Tchaikovsky work will take place at Steps and Pointe ballet academies on June 26 and 27 at 7:00 p.m.

A John Wayne birthday party in Panama

Taborcillo Island and Hotel will celebrate Hollywood legend John Wayne's 100th birthday anniversary with a great festival, on May 26. Wayne was a former owner of the island.

During the whole month of May, everyone who is celebrating his or her birthday in May, or on the 26th of any month, is invited to join the feast and visit the island.

For the jubilee there will be culinary attractions, live music and a great birthday cake.

Taborcillo is a small private island located in the Panamanian Pacific Coast and today is the site of a new resort and theme park: John Wayne City, a replica of an authentic western town, typical of Wayne’s movies.

Pristine
The island’s pristine tropical nature is part of the Taborcillo experience, which boasts a large variety of fauna, including various species of exotic birds.

Ralph Hübner, founder of the Swiss Who’s Who publishing house, designed the special concept of an ecological paradise for this island.

There is no mass tourism, no 5-star hotel, and only guests with reservations are permitted to visit the island.

And although Taborcillo has a European management, it remains a truly Panamanian island.

From the capital Panama City, it takes around 90 minutes by car or by bus from the Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte in Albrook (ticket fare is $2) to go to Punta Chame. The mainland building is located directly at the beach, opposite the school.

Boat ride
A boat will come to Punta Chame to pick you up on the beach and will take you to the island within 10-15 minutes.

Boat fare is $1 for adults and $5 children. Children under 3 years old, do not pay.

If you are interested in attending this event you can make a reservation with Taborcillo Hotel calling 214-7407 or 214-7408 or visit web page
www.isla-taborcillo.com

Focus Publications (Int.), S.A.