Gaming association launches program against compulsive gambling

Casinos are a hundred-million-dollar industry in Panama.

Around the world, Casinos are a symbol of growth in the tourist industry. In Panama, legally speaking, wherever there is a large casino there is a five-star hotel –a combination that pumps approximately US$100 million into the national economy every year.

However, for many, the flashing lights of a casino represent a strong temptation to engage in compulsive gambling, which also causes millions of dollars in lost productivity and numerous social consequences.

Conscious of the consequences of compulsive gambling, Panama's Association of Managers of Gaming Establishments (ASAJA) recently launched the campaign "Juega Responsablemente" ("Play Responsibly".)

Using the image of Panamanian celebrity Rodolfo Ferrufino, one of the most respected faces on local television, ASAJA has placed posters and delivered thousands of pamphlets educating the public on the dangers of compulsive gambling.

Antonio Alfaro, president of ASAJA, told The Visitor: "The idea is for casino enthusiasts to pay bills first, save some money and play afterwards."

The program also includes the creation of the Association of Annonymous Ludopaths of Panama (ALAPA) which offers professional help to "addicts". In addition, there is a "Self-Exclusive Program", through which rehabilitated compulsive gamblers voluntarily request not to be accepted in casinos nationwide. The association keeps confidential records of those involved in the program, which is open to Panamanians and foreigners.

For more information, call 263-0901/0319 or send an e-mail to: alapanama@gmail.com

Hearing opens the door to a world of possibilities

By: Dr. Beatriz C. Alvarado, Au.D.,CCC-A, FAAA

The opera singer, Placido Domingo, has expressed that "hearing opens the door to a world full of passion and infinite possibilities where our souls are touched to appreciate the sounds and vibrations of nature, music, and language in such a way that science cannot possibly comprehend. Our hearing helps us to live fully, to listen to the laughter of children at play, to reveal the feelings conveyed in a song, or to discover happiness when we hear the voices of those who we love" (www.hear-the-world.com).

We often forget that our precious hearing abilities can be at risk when we expose ourselves to loud noises, to illnesses, of by simple deterioration due to aging.

Hearing loss prevention through the practice of good hearing habits during noise exposure and in conjunction with the use of earplugs for very noisy/industrial environments or earplugs with special balanced frequency attenuation filters (15, 20 or 25 decibels) for musicians, are some of the approaches utilized for hearing conservation.

On the other hand, the new technologies for hearing instruments such as digital hearing aids can help us improve the quality of life of many people hearing loss. The amplification features and sound quality of today’s digital hearing aids are indeed advanced and innovative.

"Hearing opens the door to a world full of passion and infinite possibilities where our souls are touched to appreciate the sounds and vibrations of nature, music, and language in such a way that science cannot possibly comprehend. Our hearing helps us to live fully, to listen to the laughter of children at play, to reveal the feelings conveyed in a song, or to discover happiness when we hear the voices of those who we love" –Placido Domingo.

Digital hearing aids of the 3rd and 4th generation are microcomputers with a never ending set of electro-acoustic, automatic and high-tech features. These hearing aids can have multiple frequency bands and channels that provide a high quality sound resolution, directional microphones that adjust automatically and attenuate the amplification of incoming sounds from the angles of incidence with the loudest environmental noise and then zoom into the sounds coming frontally, multiple listening programs that change automatically (sensing the situation) or manually for different environmental situations (TV, music, telephone, quiet environment, noisy environment, reverberant environment, etc.), noise and feedback reduction features that filter enviromental noise per frequency band or channel, end-of-battery life alert, automatic volume and program changes that do not require the user´s manipulation, self-learning features that monitor the changes in volume that the user makes and applies them the next time the aid is turned on, voice-smart features that literally speak in the user´s own language to inform him/her of a change in program by saying "music program", "TV program", etc...

If the digital hearing aid user prefers to make manual changes to the hearing aid, some of these instruments can be controlled by remote controls in the form of a wrist "watch" that have an integrated remote control function (James Bond style). This watch will allow the user to change environmental programs, to change the volume, or to activate other assitive listening devices that use frequency modulated (FM) or Bluetooth signals to receive signals through a transmitter (microphone) placed at a remote location. This latter feature is an accesory to the digital hearing aid that can be used to isolate and enhance the signal of interest due to noise, distance, or environmental reverberation (echo).

In summary, today’s digital hearing aids are really exceptional and they are made in different styles, sizes, colors, and budgets. The new technologies in hearing instruments have made tremendous advancements and there are many options for people who suffer from hearing loss.

To hear well is indeed something special and we do not have to isolate ourselves from the outside world because there are many solutions.

For more information, Tel: 204-8436 or email:
audiologiaespecializada@yahoo.com

Expat profile

The Circle Completed for a Man with Broadcasting Flair

By David Young

What goes around comes around, goes the old saying, and not always with the best results. But for British ex-pat Gerry Dowden it has a happy meaning. Like many permanent residents of Panama, he came, fell in love with the country and stayed. The icing on the cake was marriage to a beautiful Panamanian.

This is the first of a series of articles about expats’ experiences in Panama. If you want to share your story, contact us at focusint@sinfo.net or call 225-6638.

End of story? No things get better. Another long nurtured love was broadcasting, particularly spinning the discs as they used to say when the music went around and around".

As a young communications technician in the RAF, stationed in the Middle East, he became manager, producer and on-air presenter to British service men and women and ex-pats in and around Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. His easy going on-air approach and knowledge of current and past pop music, made him popular with his audiences, and gave him a sense of personal fulfillment.

He left the RAF in his late twenties, and while carving out a career for himself trading marine fuels continued broadcasting on hospital networks in Britain, fielding requests and sending messages with a musical attachment, from families and friends.

As his career in oil advanced, and he rose to be managing director of a series of companies, the on-air hobby had to be put to one side, and his spare hours in a stress-filled life were spent in listening instead of presenting.

In 1993 he arrived in Panama to manage a fuel trading company, which expanded into shipping and road transport company. He met Christina, and they were married in 1996.

“Gerry d” on air.

When the company he managed was sold, his choice was not difficult. "England had changed from the country I grew up in, and not always for the better" he said. "Panama was a country of opportunity, packed with friendly people. We used to say that it was one of the world’s best kept secrets."

It was a time when ex-pats, outside of the American military, were few and far between. "Some of us would meet for social events, and we probably knew the names of every ex-pat in the city.

He believes strongly that Panama is like a multinational corporation, with a responsibility to the rest of the world through its Canal, banks and ever expanding service centers. But while the introduction of other customs and approaches may seem a threat to some, he stresses that much of this is enrichment for the country, but that regardless, it must not lose its only national identity.

For this reason he is wary of the term "ex-pat" as a possible definition of an outsider. He sees himself as a supporter of, a believer in, and a willing partner Panama, who is actively involved in working for the community at large.

Gerry opened a consultancy company to help new arrivals through the trails and trials of bureaucracy and settling in. The company thrived, and suddenly he had time to think and to dream of an old love. Missing from the settling-in equation for many newcomers was a link, in their own language to the music they grew up with a quick English interpretation of events going on around them. Gerry knew the answer was English radio. Eighteen months ago he teamed up with some "Brits" who shared his dream, and the Panama Broadcasting Corporation was born. The s first broadcast of Sunday Night at the Metropolis on 95.3 FM with Gerryd as the host, was on October 1 last year and it immediately attracted a loyal band of listeners, here and in North America, where it can be heard via the internet.

Nothing flatters more than imitation, and soon other radio stations were adjusting programming formats to match Gerry’s laid back approach to news, features and music.

What had gone around, has come around.

You can heal “Gerry d” on FM 93.5 every sunday at 8 p.m.

Yes, it’s "spring" in Panama

Spring in Panama. Sounds like a major contradiction considering the fact that the period between April and May is the hottest time of the year on the Isthmus, with humidity around 90% and a heat index often surpassing the 37 C (100 F) degree mark.

But yes, it is spring alright. The arrival of the rainy season, which extends until December, prompts the blooming of the Guayacán, a tropical tree found in the Caribbean basin, from southern Mexico to northern South America.

The natural spectacle of yellow, white and pink flowers can be seen all over Panama, along highways and by-ways, offering a striking contrast with the deep greens of forested areas. Many specimens of Guayacán adorn major thoroughfares in the Panama City area, such as Avenida Balboa, which borders the waterfront.

Also blooming in full splendor during this time of year is Flor de Mayo (Vochysia Ferruginea,) which yields beautiful deep orange flowers.

Alternative medicine in Volcan

By David Dell

Just off the main Cerro Punta road in Volcan, on the church grounds, is a small building used by the local branch of Alcoholic s Anonymous. On Tuesday’s of each week it provides a very different kind of diagnosis and treatment.

Fifty year old Damaris Rivera, and forty year old Dilcia Rosas, have, for the past twelve years, been running a Bio-health or Bio-Salud clinic. They use a form of "Energy Kinesiology" to diagnose a myriad of health problems from parasites through kidney and liver complaints all the way up to cancer.

Damaris & Dilcia

Damaris and Dilcia are not "Faith healers." Damaris made it quite clear that this is a learned technique, and she believes that anybody could do it.

The process is quite simple, a patient enters the clinic, they have their blood pressure taken, and then they enter the small cubicle where Damaris and Dilcia work together to diagnose the complaint.

Kinesiology was first developed in 1964, by a Michigan, chiropractor, Dr. George J. Goodheart. Since then, many different forms have evolved, using variations of the basic muscle tension or balancing technique. A colleague of Goodheart’s, Dr. John Thie, D.C. then discovered the link with Chinese acupuncture meridians.

Damaris and Dilcia’s process uses elements of both Chinese and Japanese alternative medicine. The process is strange to say the least. Dilcia will ask you to hold out your left hand into which she places a herb. You are asked to keep the arm level and steady as Dilcia uses her left arm to run a short, copper rod, up and down and over your body. All the while Dilcia’s right hand is connected to Damaris’ left hand by means of interlocking thumb and forefingers, forming a small round circle.

As I understand the process, there is a flow of either positive or negative energy flowing along the meridian lines between the patient and the interpreter. In my case Damaris pulled gently on the fingers of Dilcia and depending on whether the fingers opened easily or not, determined the positive or negative energy flowing from the test rod held in Dilcia’s hand.

At first, the copper test rod was passed over my body, but then, I was asked to place my hand on a series of photographs. The pictures were actual microscope slides of blood ailments and cancerous tumors. The idea is that the photographs of actual tumors, give off a negative vibration or energy, this is then transmitted through my fingers and through the two women. Damaris, at the end of the chain will see if the inter-linked fingers open or close: thereby determining if my body reacts to the energy given off by the tumor.

The healing hands of Damaris Rivera.

Simply put, if I, for example pointed to a cancerous tumor and the energy was negative, that would be a cause for concern and give me the opportunity to use conventional diagnostic treatments for verification.

It sounds very interesting, but does this process work? My wife first tried it and was amazed at how accurate the findings were; She was told that her cholesterol was a problem – A previous blood test had shown this to be true.

My bill of health was comparatively good, although I did show the signs of early diabetes. The clincher for me was when Damaris accurately deduced that I was having problems with sciatica; something that extensive doctor visits and tests failed to show in Canada.

I asked Damaris and Dilcia why they gave up their time and energy to do this work. They both said it was because they wanted to help poor people. The cost for a diagnosis is just $3.00 but if you are sick and can’t afford it, they will examine you for free.

The final part of the process is that you are given a list of recommended herbs that will help with your ailment. Is this a viable alternative diagnostic service? Damaris tells me that a doctor at the local health clinic, has now become a believer.

The bio-salud clinic is open Tuesdays from 8:00 to 3:00 in Volcan, and once a month in Rio Sereno and Alto Quiel.

Saint or Sinner Drake played a big role in Latin American history

By David Young

Mention Sir Francis Drake in England, and you’ll get a quick response, listing his achievements as the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world, the man who continued playing a game of bowls at Plymouth when told the Spanish Armada was coming, and then sailed out to defeat them.

Mention him in Spain and you will hear tales of a blood-thirsty,slave trading pirate who laid waste to settlements throughout the New World and whose name was used to threaten disobedient children: "If you don’t go to sleep the bogeyman, El Draco (or El Draqui) will come to get you."

But saint or sinner, Drake, who was buried off Porto Belo, played a major role in world history and his exploits have been mythologized and demonized, depending which side of the fence you were brought up on. And he’s in good company, as many of the great names of history are similarly loved or despised, like Phillip II of Spain, Oliver Cromwell, Napoleon, Henry V of England, Winston Churchill and both President Roosevelts.

Drake was born into a farming family Devonshire in April, round about 1540 the eldest of 12 sons. The family moved to Kent where they lived in an old sea hulk and his father preached to sailors in the navy.

He first went to sea in the 1550’s as an apprentice to the elderly master of a small coastal freighter. By the time he was 20 he was captain of the vessel, and when the old owner died he became it’s owner. During that time he honed his skills as a navigator on the waters of the North Sea.

In 1563 he first sailed to the Spanish Main with his cousin Sir John Hawkins, and it’s here that many of the school history books conveniently skipped details of the cargoes they carried.. The series of voyages were the first English slave trading expeditions.

They forcibly rounded up West Africans to sell them to the Spanish for forced labour camps, euphemistically called Plantations.

England was at war with Spain, so when the ships arrived in the Caribbean ports the Spanish colonialists "surrendered" for a few hours, while they purchased the human cargoes. It was the custom of the Spanish navy to turn a blind eye to this trading with the enemy, but during a trip to San Juan de Ulua he was surprised by a Spanish fleet and narrowly escaped. This turned his dislike of the Spanish, already fueled by antipathy to their Catholicism, into hatred, and he devoted his life to fighting the Spanish empire and, incidentally, building on the fortune he had already made selling slaves.

On his second slaving trip he fought a battle against Spanish forces that cost many English lives, but earned him the favor of Queen Elizabeth…a good thing to have in those days. She commissioned him as a privateer, leaving only the Spanish to call him a pirate, and he grew bolder and richer, and brought back shiploads of gold and plunder all legitimized by royal decree.

In 1577 he was commissioned to undertake an expedition against the Spanish along the Pacific Coast. On this voyage he entered the history books as the first Englishman to sail around the world. He set off with 5 ships and 150 men . After crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the Straits of Magellan, he gained another first, as an Antartic explorer. A storm blew his ship at least as far south as 56 degrees, an achievement that was not surpassed for nearly 200 years until Captain Cook’s voyage of 1773.

Sir Francis Drake.

A few weeks later, he made it to the Pacific, but violent storms sank one ship and forced another to return to England. He renamed the Pelican the Golden Hind, and sailed on along the Pacific Coast attacking Spanish ports, and capturing ships. He benefited not only from their cargo, but heir charts which were superior to the ones he had received in England. After fixing up his ships, and laying claim to lands as far north as Oregon, he sailed west across the Pacific. There were many more setbacks, including being caught on a reef for three days, before finally rounding the Cape of Good Hope. He sailed into Plymouth with the Golden Hind and 56 men in July 1580. The ship was loaded with treasure and spices, and the Queen’s half share surpassed the rest of the crown’s income for the entire year. Drake was knighted, became a Member of Parliament, and Mayor of Plymouth.

Two years later war again broke out with Spain, and he sailed once more to the New World sacking ports and raising the ire of Philip II of Spain who ordered the planning of an invasion of England.

Drake "singed the King of Spain’s beard" when he led a pre-emptive strike into Cadiz, capturing six ships and sinking 31. The invasion was delayed for a year.

When it finally came in 1588, Drake, now a Vice Admiral, defeated the Armada. and sailed forever into the English history books, and his drum roll, the call to arms, is said to be heard whenever England is in danger of invasion.

After the Spanish Armada, England sent its own fleet and army, to support the rebels in Portugal. It was a dismal failure, and r the rest of his seafaring career went downhill.

He sailed again to Spanish America, suffered several defeats in a row and unsuccessfully attacked San Juan, Puerto Rico where Spanish gunners sent a cannon ball through his cabin.

In 1596 he died of dysentery while achored near Porto Belo, Panama, and was buried at sea in a lead coffin.

Not only the Spanish saw Drake as a bogeyman. He is ensconced in Irish history for his involvement in the 1575 massacre of 600, men women and children who had surrendered on Rathlin Island, Ulster.

But in the yes of history, at least English history, he will be remembered as an explorer and savior of the country, whose drum beat was heard in the dark days of 1940 when England was threatened with invasion by Hitler’s Germany. Britain defeated the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and the German armada never set sail.

When a condo becomes an apartment

By Sandra Snyder

The article that follows is an extract from the second edition of "Living in Panama" by Sandra T. Snyder, a 13-year Panama resident. It's a 'must-have' book for visitors or those who have chosen to stay.

Traditionally, city living meant apartment living. Panama City has as many apartments of every size and description as you would find in any major city. Whether you own it or rent it, apartment is the correct word. Although the term condominium is becoming popular, it is not in common use. In recent years more single-family houses and duplexes have become available in a number of neighborhoods and are popular with locals and foreigners alike. There remains one big advantage of apartments over houses, however. It is easier to just lock the door and leave your apartment feeling secure whether you are just traveling to the interior for the weekend or taking an extended vacation.

Panama City is divided into neighborhoods called barrios. The most popular in the downtown area for residences include: Punta Paitilia, Bella Vista, Obarrio, El Cangrejo, El Carmen, La Cresta, and Marbella. A little more suburban are the areas of El Dorado, Betania, La Alameda, San Francisco, Parque Lefevre, Coco del Mar, Costa del Este and Altos del Golf. New and an expansion of the Punta Paitilla area is Punta Pacifica. Since the turn over of the U.S. military bases in 1999, Panama has been developing and selling the "reverted" areas. Many of these outlying housing areas offer single-family houses as well as duplexes with large yards and surrounding park area. Most recently they have started developing some mid-rise apartments in these areas as well, which include Amador, Albrook, Cardenas, Clayton, Balboa, Albrook Gardens and Ancon.

Wherever you look in Panama there are new apartment blocks under construction.

A Room With a View

One of the wonderful advantages of high-rise living is the incredible view. From your window you can look out at the hills, the Canal, the bay or the city. Regardless of where you look, Panama is one of the most beautiful cities in which you will ever live.

Apartment buildings in Panama range from as few as six stories to as many as 40 or more and the range of services and facilities are as diverse. Almost all buildings have 24-hour security, parking, and elevators. Many buildings offer emergency generators, reserve water storage, swimming pool, recreation areas, social areas, spa and/or exercise facilities. It is not uncommon for the facility to include stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer (referred to as linea blanca or "white line"), air conditioners or even window treatments. In general housing in Panama has more bathrooms than the typical house in the U.S. They may have a doorman or concierge to offer assistance with packages. At least one has valet parking. They all have some sort of security including controlled entry that is particularly desirable for those who travel extensively or just follow the locals to the country for the weekend. All but the smallest apartments and houses will include a small living area near the kitchen and laundry areas for a live-in maid.

Panama City is currently experiencing a great building frenzy. High-rises are being constructed, planned or talked about in every area of the city. The heights proposed for some of these skyscrapers (rascacielos) are in the 70- to 100-story category. All this building becomes a major consideration for the potential buyer or renter when making longterm decisions in this no-zoning environment. What is a beautiful view of the city, the bay or the mountains out your window today may be a solid wall tomorrow. Additionally, the noise and construction pollution are considerations.

The 340 page book is available from the publisher and at local bookstores, and online at www.amazon.com $20.29

Whether you decide to buy, rent or lease, you will also want to investigate what services are included in the maintenance fee or rental rate in addition to the physical apartment. When you rent or lease, your agreement usually includes all maintenance fees, water, trash removal, and propane gas for cooking. Some rental agreements also include a basic cable TV plan. While use of the pool and common areas is included, there is normally an additional charge for use of the social areas, meeting rooms or other expanded use areas available. Many older buildings have lovely built-ins including china rooms, shoe racks, shirt shelves, bookshelves and storage areas.

Rental/lease agreements are an official government document and are standard for all residential properties. Regardless of the term of the agreement, they are cancelable with 30-days written notice (known as a diplomat clause). A security deposit equal to one month's rent is required and it is deposited with a copy of the signed agreement with the Housing Ministry (MIVI). It will be held for the life of the agreement and refunded when the tenant satisfactorily vacates the property.

In Bella Vista buildings every where.

When deciding where to live in the United States, for example, a family would consider availability and quality of schools in the neighborhood, as well as the commute for the working parents. However, in Panama distances to work are so short and schools tend to be located outside residential areas, making these considerations less applicable to the decision-making process. The decision of where to live is based on type of housing desired and amenities of the neighborhood.

Deciding whether to buy or rent is the next big consideration. The housing market in Panama is not as fluid as it is in other countries. However, buying is relatively easy and there are no restrictions to prevent foreigners from buying property in Panama. A few things to keep in mind, however, when making your decision include: mortgage rates vary with the cost of the property and amount of the down payment; property taxes for newly constructed homes are not applicable for the first fifteen years of ownership which makes new construction more desirable; and, while it is possible to sell a property, it tends to be a slow process. Unless planning on relocating here permanently, most foreigners choose to rent.

Property Management Solutions offers

"Your home away from home"

Newcomers, especially those buying into Panama's current real estate boom, soon realize that the country is definitely not as small as it appears on the map, and that some time is needed to find the best location for their future home or investment. Traveling business executives may also require more time on the Isthmus, perhaps as they wait to sign an important government contract.

These are only two examples of the growing number of people requiring a "home away from home," offering more freedom than the average hotel stay. For them, their solution in Panama is Property Management Solutions.

A subdivision of Panama-based Bern Hotels and Resorts, the firm offers and manages luxury apartments and lofts, along the exclusive Avenida Balboa. The accomodations are of all sizes, ranging between 88 m2-120 m2 (947 sq. ft-1,292) and can be furnished or unfurnished. The service is personalized, with the quality of a five-star hotel. Apartments can be rented weekly, monthly or yearly, for a minimum of three days.

The company currently has available apartments at the Bayfront Tower, an impressive high-rise on Avenida Balboa. Tenants can expect to find luxury furnishure, a well-equipped American-style kitchen, high-speed wireless internet, electronic safe, orthopedic mattresses, plus sauna, gym, game room, swimming pool, a lobby receptionist offering concierge-style service, round-the-clock security and panoramic views of the city and bay, among other amenities.

Property Management Solutions is also expanding its service to other properties owned and managed by Empresas Bern, in Panama City and the beach resort community of Coronado. For more information, call 204-5670, or visit the page www.pmsolutionspanama.com

The Causeway
Fast becoming one of Panama City’s favorite Rendezvous, for everyone from joggers and cyclists to yachtsmen, disco jetters, diners, or people watchers. If Bennigan’s is there it must be taking off.

Isla Grande
Home of the Banana’s Resort, a famed surfing beach, The Black Christ and more. The Visitor, will explore the island and nearby Porto Belo.

Where to worship
Panama has places of worship covering many religions from Catholic and Protestant to Jewish, Hindu, Muslin, Budist, Bahia. The Visitor provides a guide to help you fulfill your spiritual needs.

The Karaoke challenge
Even if you don't speak Spanish, you can have fun in the Panama karaoke world. The Visitor enters the land of the would be songsters and comes out hoarse, but with ego intact.

Animal Care
For those accustomed to cooler climes, the adjustment to the tropics sometimes takes a little time, but with care sun tan lotion and air conditioning the transition can be a pleasurable experience. But what about your pets? A look at some ways to ensure "mans" best friend" and other pets adjust to their new world.

Insurance for new comers
All settled in New home, new car, clean bill of health from the doctor, except for....? The Visitor gets a professionals view on how to cover yourself.

Shopping with Lourdes
There are offers galore, sales, bargains - everything for the shopper on the move, from malls to boutiques. Lourdes will bring you details of the continuing Panamanian shopping paradise.

New in Panama
It seems that not a day goes by without the opening of a new restaurant, or tourist facility, and our roving reporters are out there to guide you to new places to explore.