Anh Vo

Miss Albuixech
Spanish II
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Geography
Cuna Indian mola design of a
Panamanian coin featuring
The Cuna were the first
Spanish explorer Vasco
people on Panama
Núñez de Balboa
 Where the Cuna lived

Molas were and are made by the

San Blas Cuna Indians of Panama.
It is a very intriqite pattern of
multi-colored and multi-layered
pieces of appliiquéd cloth, each
edge hand-sewn in place stitch by
stitch. Many that you see today
are of animals. the cloth faded
just so to give it a lovely soft
quality.
However, to those skilled in Cuna writing, each ideogram actually
represents a phrase of about 8-10 words. Each wooden tablet is actually
read from the lower right corner to the left. The next line up reads left to
right, in socalled "boustrophedon" style. Cuna writing resembles the
"writing" found on the "talking boards" of Easter Island, which in turn
seem to have affinities with the ancient script of the Indus Valley in
India. These affinities or similarities can only mean that pre-Columbian
contacts may have occurred between ancient India, Easter Island, and
Panama!
.
Exploration gave way to a period in which the
king exercised royal control by appointing
governors and their staffs. They were all paid
from crown revenues expected from the role
profits on colony. Representative’s of the king
was responsible for ensuring such returns.He
tracked all gold, pearls, and income from trade
and conquest; he weighed out and safeguarded
the king's share.
By July 1903, when the course of internal
Colombian opposition to the Hay-Herrán Treaty
became obvious, a revolutionary junta had been
created in Panama. José Augustin Arango
headed the junta. Manuel Amador Guerrero and
Carlos C. Arosemena served on the junta from
the start all from prominent Panamanian
families.Arango was considered the brains of
the revolution, and Amador was the junta's
active leader.
Panama is a constitutional republic. Executive
power is held by the president, who is
popularly elected for a five-year term and
cannot serve two consecutive terms. The
Legislative Assembly has 72 members who are
also elected for five years. Administratively
the country is divided into nine provinces, plus
three autonomous territories for indigenous
people. The government name is constitutional
democracy.
 Panama's economy is based primarily on a well-
developed services sector that accounts for
three-fourths of GDP. Services include operating
the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone,
insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and
tourism. A slump in Colon Free Zone and
agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the
withdrawal of US military forces held back
economic growth in 2000-02. The government has
been backing public works programs, tax reforms,
new regional trade agreements, and development
of tourism in order to stimulate growth.
In 1955, Panamanian products as
bakery goods, soft drinks, meats, and
bottled milk. Foreign investment went
into relatively large plants for oil
refining, food processing, and
utilities. The country’s industry
construction, petroleum refining,
brewing, cement and other
construction materials, and sugar
milling.The industrial population
growth rate is 0.5%.
Panama’s population now is 2,960,784. The
population grew 1.36%. The ethinic groups
are mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white)
70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian)
14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%. Spanish
(official), English 14%, and most
Panamanians bilingual. Small numbers of
those of foreign extraction--Chinese,
Jews, Arabs, Greeks, South Asians,
Lebanese, West Europeans, and North
Americans--were also present.
In Panama, they witness warm or even hot,
sunny days. The summer months are with cool
winds and extended periods of sun with little or
no rain.In the rainy season which is often
frequented by afternoon rains and
thunderstorms.The rain can pour heavily but in a
short time.The weather seasons is divided into
two distinct periods. They are dry seson which
occurs in December and April. The wet season
which takes place during the remaining of the
year. The region's normal daily temperature is 26
degrees Celsius and varies throughout the
year,perhaps 2-3 degrees Celsius.The
temperatures can be as 6-10 degrees Celsius. The
evenings are cool,with refreshing breezes and
star lit skies.
Two big festivities in Panama occur at
Christmas and during the Carnival. The
Carnival is a celebration that occurs
before the Lent season. It is similar to
Mardi Gras. The Carnival includes
religious services, street dancing, and
parades. Important holidays are
Independence Day on Nov. 3 and
Firemen’s Day on May 5.
 
Panama’s traditional
costume is the pollera.
The pollera consist of a
ruffled three quarters
sleeved boat neck. It is
an off shoulder blouse
and long two or three
layer ruffled skirt. It is
said to have derived
from Spanish sixteenth
century.
       
               

              
Traditional and national dance is called tamorito. It is
derived from Spanish folk. It is include native themes,
rhythms, and dance step. The popular music has been
influenced by Afro-Caribbean music. There are three
music genres. They are cumbia, tamborita, and the
mejorana. Tamborita is a call and response vocal
phrasing and drum patterns.The lyrics are repetitive.
  
Diosa de las Aguas  

Coqui Calderon was born in 1937 in the city of Panama. In

                                               
1929 she finished her university degree at Rosemont College,
PA. At Rosemont College, her majors were in art history and
in history.She still continued her art in Paris , France. After
staying in Paris and New York, movement has become her
main characteristics in her works.
 Arroz con Pollo

The most common food in Panama is arroz con

pollo.Arroz con pollo is chicken with rice.Sancocho is
Panama’s national dish. Sancoche is a hearty stew with
chicken, yucca and avocado. Some other Panamanian
foods are tamales, fried bananas, and broiled.
 Who can pass up the cool, pure freshness of green coconut
beverage, known in Panama as “pipa” water, once having
tasted the sweet, clear liquid of the unripe coconut! Always
pure and cool in the container that nature provided, the
liquid could well be that “nectar of the gods” so often alluded
to by one who has just satisfied a raging thirst.