Calendar of Events

Teatro La Quadra

Discover the secret of “The Tunnel”

The social drama El Túnel (The Tunnel) will be shown until September 15 at La Quadra Theater. This play by the actor and writer Joshua Manopla, is recommended for those over fifteen years old.

The action takes place in a tunnel, where five young people are trapped. The audience will has to wait a few minutes to find out why they are in that situation. The author did not want to give more details about the subject matter, because the idea is for the public to find out more as the play progresses, but he said that the theme will concern everybody, youngsters and adults.

The play will run Monday to Friday at 8:00 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays there will be two presentations at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m respectively. The tickets are on sale at the theater and cost $7.00 in pre-sale and $10.00 the same day of the performance. For more information call 214-3695.

Set in London:

“Taxi”, the story of a bigamist, plays at La Quadra Theater

The cast, from left to right: Rogelio Bustamante, Edwin Avila, Rossana Uribe,
Marko, Reina Medaglia, José Carranza and Eric de León.

The English comedy “Taxi”, (Run for your wife) by Ray Cooney, will be presented in Spanish at La Quadra Theater from August 23 to September 30 in aid of the development programs of the Formation and Scenic Creation Center of La Quadra.

“Taxi” is a comedy of entanglements, with London as its background. A taxi driver (Marko) is married to two women at the same time, (Rossana Uribe and Reina Medaglia), who are ignorant of each other’s existence. The story tells his trials and tribulations, when he tries at all costs to avoid a meeting between his wives. His best friend (Rogelio Bustamante) must lie for him, to prevent bigger problems.

Meanwhile, two police detectives (José Carranza and Edwin Avila) are doing everything in their power to obtain sufficient evidence to send the bigamist to jail. Finally, his homosexual neighbor (Eric de León) arrives at the most inconvenient moment.

The play, which is in Spanish will be presented every day at 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays at 5:00 p.m. General entry: $12.00 ($10.00 in pre-sales), pensioners and students: $6.00. On Tuesdays the entrance is half price. Tickets are sold in Blockbuster and the theater. For reservations call: 214-8281.

Many innovations at big craft fair at Atlapa

By: Marijulia Pujol Lloyd

You may never have contemplated carving vegetables as a hobby, but if the idea intrigues you, pay a visit to the XIV International Craft Fair that will take place at the Atlapa Convention Center from September 14 to 16.

The fair will host over 200 exhibitors from eight countries, and offer workshops at reasonable prices for those who want to explore the artistic side of their personality. You could learn to make molas, weave, decorate cakes, wood carving, painting and many other crafts.

During the three day fair, there will be folkloric presentations, craft demonstrations, art galleries, costume jewelery stalls, jewelery and a special night for handicapped debutants. The restaurant area will offer food from Panama, Mexico, China, Venezuela and Colombia.

The organizer of the event, Ileana Hong de Wong, owner of Aileen Artworld said that every year around 5000 people a day come to the fair and this year they expect to surpass that number.

"Every year we try to add a new element to the fair and that is why we have special guests such as the Costa Rican cookery academy Akam, which will have demonstrations and workshops of how to carve vegetables. The Argentinian professor, María José Roldán, will teach wool weaving and how to make Victorian boxes, while the Ecuadorian factory Monzart will promote its lines of rollers, markers and cutters to make pastry desserts, sweets and Russian porcelain", added Wong.

Some of the exhibitors will spend a few extra weeks in Panama, after the event, to offer longer workshops to the public. Those interested can obtain more information talking to the master craftsmen directly.

The fair will benefit the charities:: "Pide un deseo", "Frater", "Olimpiadas Especiales" and "Niños Felices". The entrance cost $2.50 and open from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m Friday and Saturday and on Sunday from 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information call 223-7459.

Discover Panama’s Caribbean flavor at the Fair of the Sea

Main Street, Bocas del Toro.

The Fair of the Sea (La Feria del Mar), in its 45th version will take place from September 11 to 16 at Isla Colón, province of Bocas del Toro, and is considered the most important event on the Panamanian Caribbean, because of its size and diversity.

The old United Fruit Company started the fair in the ‘60s and it is now a tradition.

Each year folklore groups from all parts of the country take part with Afro-Caribbean dances. There will be national and international exhibitions with the participation of the Smithsonian Institute, the Panama Canal Authority, the Agriculture Ministry and the Bocas del Toro Alliance, to mention a few.

A “Congo” dance group from Colon.

Other attractions are the sale of handicrafts and products, especially those related to the maritime sector. On Sunday September 16 there will be motorized boats and cayuco races, and of course popular dances.

Tropical fruits.

The Fair of the Sea is different from all country fairs in Panama, because it takes place when most of the country is in the rainy season (except Bocas) and due to the cultural mix of the region, which exhibits a strong Afro-Caribbean influence, native american traditions and a growing expat population from North America, Europe and South America.

The fair ground is located on Isla Colón towards the road to Boca Drago and is right on the beach, where the majority of the events are celebrated.

There are two ways to get to Bocas del Toro from Panama, by plane or by road. The flight takes one hour, from the Marcos A. Gelabert airport, in Albrook to Bocas del Toro. The trip by land takes around 10 to 12 hours. You will have to drive over the Bridge of the Americas or the Centenary Bridge continue through the central provinces to Chiriqui turning right at the town of Chiriquí and over the continental divide to Changuinola, where you can take a water taxi to Isla Colón, where you can find lodgings. You could also take the overnight bus to Bocas del Toro from the bus terminal in Albrook. It is advisable to make hotel reservations before you depart.

Folklore groups from all parts of the country take
part with Afro-Caribbean dances.

The world through a lens

World’s most spectacular press photos on show

A lone and desperate settler struggles with Israeli
security forces, Amona outpost.

The renowned exhibition World Press Photo can be viewed at the Contemporary Art Museum, in Ancon from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, until September 16. It is an exhibit of press photographs from all over the world and was brought to Panama courtesy of the Dutch government.

Serval cat, Zakouma Nacional Park, Chad.

Her Excellency, the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Susan Blankhart said: "our dealings with Panama in the past have been related to business. Now we want to strengthen the relationship between our two countries through culture". She stated that her government is planning similar events in the future in order to create a closer bond with the Panamanian people.

Soccer team celebrating its victory at the World Cup.

The World Press Photo is an independent nonprofit organization, founded in the Netherlands in 1955 to support and promote the work of professional press photographers.

Family of refugees fleeing the horrors of war in Iraq.

Each year, World Press Photo invites press photographers throughout the world to submit images for the annual competition. In 2007 4,460 photographers from 124 countries entered a total of 78,083, images, judged in Amsterdam by thirteen professionals. The exhibition shows approximately 178 winning pictures from the contest. It is travelling to in over 90 cities worldwide and will be seen by over two million people.

A western woman comforting child in Africa.

The exhibition shows images of nature, sports, daily life, stories and portraits. Some of the photos reveal the horror of war, while others demonstrate the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. The nature pictures are full of energy and action.

From left to right: Sarah Berkouwer, daughter of the
Ambassador; Her Excellency, the Ambassador of the
Netherlands, Susan Blankhart; the director of the
Contemporary Art Museum, María Fábrega and
the director of INAC, Reinier Rodríguez.

Entrance to the exhibition costs $2.00. For more information call the Contemporary Art Museum 262-3380 or 262-8012.

Drums, “fiddles” and song at

The famous Mejorana festival

The "Mejorana Festival" in Guararé, Los Santos province, is a celebration of the spirit of all the traditions of Panama. This festival will take place from September 23 to 27 and coincides with the patron saint festivities of "Virgen de Las Mercedes".

The "mejoranera" is the musical instrument from which the festival takes its name. It is a type of guitar, smaller than the Spanish one and usually manufactured in the workshops of the town. It only has four strings.

Dayana Carolina Herrera Castillero,
queen of the 57th Festival of
La Mejorana.

The first organizers of the festival selected the name "mejoranera" because of its wide use in the music, singing and dancing of the province.

Mejoraneros, drummers, accordionists, artisans, "décimas" (singing poetry) singer and folkloric groups from all parts of the country will take part in this four-day festival.

Competitions include one for the written "décima", dedicated to Professor Manuel F. Zarate, creator of the Mejorana Festival, and another is for the sung "décima".

Of all activities during the festival, the Parade of the Carriages is the most spectacular, because all the folkloric groups, tunas (folkloric dancers and musicians), and floats of all the traditional, commercial and governmental intities.

To travel to Guararé, take a bus from Panama Terminal to Las Tablas. There you can find accommodation, but Guararé has various hotels. Make your reservation on time, because during the time of the festival few rooms are available.

Construction, mortgages and housing at Capac Expo Habitat

The construction boom of the last few years will be reflected at Capac Expo Habitat 2007, the international fair of construction and housing from September 26 to 30 at the Atlapa Convention Center.

Capac Expo Hábitat started in 1980 as an event organized by builders for builders and providers of goods and services, but in the last ten years it has expanded into a major event for those in the construction industry and the public as well. You can shop for houses, mortgages, furniture and heavy machinery among other things. This event is considered one of the most important in Latin American and the Caribbean.

The fair will include speeches, conferences and products demonstrations. A business area will be available to help those companies which would like to make commercial contacts within the event.

It is estimated that around 350 exhibitors will participate, including manufacturers, distributors, machinery representatives and distributors of equipment and building systems, to mention a few. The organizers expect that more than 35,000 people will come to the fair, which could generate in commercial transactions a figure close to $300 million.

A great number of real estate promoters and banks will offer different types of properties and information about the best mortgages at the best interest rates.

For more information about Capac Expo Hábitat call: 265-2500.

Second commercial fair Sept. 13-16 in David

Expocamara Chiriqui promotes business in the province

Encouraged by the success of last year´s Chiriquí Business fair, the Chamber of Commerce is about to launch this year´s fair, Expocamara Chiriqui 2007, will be bigger and better, inviting all entrepreneurs and businessmen to make commercial transactions in an environment that promote business. It will take place from September 13 – 16 at the grounds of the David International fair.

Some of the benefits fro the participants in Expocamara Chiriquí 2007 are that they will have the opportunity to present new virtual commerce technology, increase international business, get to know new tendencies in the export of products and conduct business in the industrial, agricultural and services sectors.

Last year’s fair–the first– was a big success. This year’s version will
get even more attention.

Expocamara Chiriqui will have exhibition areas for commercial, agricultural and services sectors and also seminars and conferences with subjects that will interest entrepreneurs and commercial missions.

The fair will be organized simultaneously with the Latin American Commerce Congress. There is also an exhibition area for everything related to babies and a sector dedicated to cars and sports.

For information call Carmen Guerra 775-5781 or 775-485, ciach@cwpanama.net

Two guitars—the group Duo on stage

The guitar group Duo formed by the Panamanian musicians Arturo Villarreal and Luis Bonilla will perform at the bar El Callejon, at the restaurant Il Boccalino, on September 14.

Duo has prepared a new and exciting show with a great variety of music such as latin flavored jazz tunes, bossa nova, boleros, rock and pop arranged for two guitars, plus the guest appearance of the percussionist, Tony Martínez, adding his Afro-Cuban and South American rhythm to the proceedings.

What makes this show unique is that the musicians will be performing a varied array of musical styles, all of which meet under the latin jazz style with arrangements for three instruments.

The show includes music by Ruben Blades, Carlos Jobim, Chick Corea, Chucho Valdéz and Chuck Mangione to mention a few.

The restaurant Il Boccalino is located in Marbella close to TGI Fridays. The show will start at 8:00 p.m. and the tickets costs $5.00. For reservations call:228-2583.

SPORTS

Spanish Ambassador Golf Tournament at Coronado

The Spanish Ambassador Golf Tournament will take place at the course of Coronado Golf & Beach Resort on September 15. The event, which is organized by the Official Spanish Chamber, will be played over 18 holes and is open to teams of three players. The “Mexican best ball” rule will be applied to the competition.

It is expected that over 100 golfers will participate in this event to honor the Spanish diplomat. An SUV Land Rover goes the first player to make a hole-in-one on the sixteenth green.

For more information call 240-4444 or send an e-mail shop@coronadoresort.com.

SPORTS

Two races in different terrains

Two races are planned by Corredores del Istmo (Runners of the Isthmus) during September. These two tests of speed and stamina take place in two different terrains.

RBK of Las Bóvedas will take place on September 16 over eight kilometers. The runners will depart from Plaza de Francia, in the Casco Antiguo, towards Balboa Avenue, and returning through San Felipe back to the starting point. You can register the same day by paying $2.00 and will have the opportunity to win RBK products in the tombola.

The second race will be run on September 23 at Parque Omar and is sponsored by Merrell. The route is nine kilometers cross country. A relay race of three kilometers is included in the event. The registration is $2.00 which gets you a t-shirt, breakfast and hydration.

For more information and to register on line visit: www.marathonpanama.com.