Every year the district of Antón, on Panama’s Pacific Coast covering areas from San Carlos to Rio Hato celebrates a festival to honor it’s cultural and agricultural traditions. The festival, called El Toro Guapo or the Handsome Bull was begun in 1964 by Armando del Rosario, a Panamaian folklorist artist.  The festival which pays homage by its name to the farming and cattle raising communities of Anton, is in its 39th year.

Celebration for El Toro Guapo go on for 4 days. There are parades, bands, music, dancing and contests. During festival days one can watch a number of contests centered around the everyday activities faced in the life of farmers and cattle ranchers. You will find competitions for coconut peeling, cow milking and woodcutting. You will also see how rice is husked in wooden barrels, without machinery and you can enjoy a bowl of ‘guacho’, a hearty rice soup which is often made with meat or chicken.

Dear Residents and Visitors of Coronado and Members of the Coronado Golf Club,
 
We have come to realize that there is some confusion about who is in charge of various projects around the area of Coronado, and felt the need to issue a bulletin to assist in bringing concerns to the proper areas.

Over the years, the Eisenmann Family has come to be associated with Coronado. While the Family does own land and developments in the area, they do not own the entire area called Coronado. THE EISENMANN FAMILY (Don Bob) owned the whole land and started the development called Coronado.  The various projects bought the land directly from the Eisenmanns’ or have repurchased from people who originally bought from them.

1. Know your tax system.  Some countries tax their citizens on assets they own even outside the country of origin and sometimes as luxury items. Remember that the assets you hold in Panama also pay taxes in Panama (if taxes apply); so you may end up paying double taxes on a single property: in Panama and your country or origin. This can be prevented by purchasing under a corporation or applying for Panamanian tax exemptions.

2. Some real estate companies will tell you that purchasing a property in Panama will automatically give you immigration benefits.  This is partially true.  While there are visas that need you to make an investment (that could very well be a property), property is usually only one of the requirements.

The long awaited opening of the San Fernando Clinic has finally arrived. As of today, October 25th 2008, it is open for business.  The emergency room will be staffed 24 hours a day - 7 days a week with qualified medical personnel.

This clinic is a first in the interior of Panama for a private hospital and will be evaluated as to its potential in other interior communities. The San Fernando Clinic is a wonderful addition to our community that will alleviate many of the emergency health concerns for those living and visiting the Pacific Beaches.

The Open House was held on March 24th at 4 PM and included a ribbon cutting ceremony and a blessing from the Catholic Priest. After the ceremony, food and refreshments were served along with live music at the Club Ecuestre.

Felipe Motta's 8th Annual Wine Tasting Fair, or VIII Gran Feria de Vinos, took place at the Felipe Motta Wine Store in Marbella on Wednesday October 22nd and Thursday October 23rd from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30p.m.
 

Given that Felipe Motta is on a highly trafficked one-way street and that the event took place during rush hour, there was some unavoidable “tráfico,”  though complimentary valet parking was available for all guests.
 

Upon entrance to Felipe Motta, attendees pay a reasonable admission fee of $20.00, which gets them a wine glass and passport, not to mention fully preparing them for an exclusive journey through 24 wineries from California, Chile, Argentina, Spain, France, Italy and Australia. All tasting booths are manned by recognized professionals from all over the globe. What's more, the admission fee is 100% redeemable during the event for the purchase of wines being shown. Though the coupon is specifically for the event day that you attend, I'm sure you could get away with buying the passport the first day and swinging by the next!

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Education, especially homeschool education, has changed significantly over the past few decades. Many parents living in foreign countries find it necessary to homeschool their children; this is the option for many expatriate families living and working in Panama especially those who have chosen to live along the Pacific Coast.  Gorgona resident Kathy Kress, an experienced international teacher, decided to open a local school for families seeking a high-quality English education with an emphasis on Panamanian culture and language.   Hence, Neuvo Gorgona is now the home of Panama Coast International School (PCIS).

Kathy’s teaching career of 25 years has included all levels of education from Kindergarten through adult education. She has been involved in four international schools. One was in China, where she was part of a group of American teachers who spent a year organizing, planning and opening a new international school.  Panama Coast International School (PCIS) is her first solo endeavor.

When I mentioned to my real estate agent that I wanted a company who could offer property management services, he recommended Caunter E. Hijos Administraciones de Panama.   We visited their offices one day and I met the owners,  Nelly Caunter and her daughter Susan.   Right away I knew I would be in good hands.   They have been in business for over ten years, are experienced in what they do,  and are very professional.   They are from Panama and are completely fluent in Spanish and English.   They go far beyond what a normal property management service does.  They are always available to handle any issue or problem,  visit all properties they manage on a regular basis,  and check each time that everything is in proper order.

Tao, the son of a surfer from Palmar, is an awesome success story from Finca La Maya. When he first arrived at the age of 4, it was obvious that Tao had tons of talent. However, he was so hyperactive that he could not concentrate to finish his projects.

Through Finca La Maya’s free Art Classes and help from his family, Tao learned to use his energy as an advantage when creating his projects. With lots of inspiration from the teachers and students around him, Tao further developed his talents and now is a diligent worker, which is a skill he will need all of his life. Though once Tao could not concentrate to finish a project, he now looks forward to Art Class every week so he can make and complete a creation of his own.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Certainly the best known of the red wines. The ‘cab’ is from the Medoc region of Bordeaux in France and these wines age particularly well. Cabs are now equally important in California as well as most of the wine regions of the world.  They are high in tannin and the better wines have a blackcurrant nose and flavour and are rich. It is this which usually what makes the drinker enjoy or dislike cabs. To mollify this taste many vintners blend the Cabernet Sauvignon with the milder Merlot grape. (the Merlot grape also grows in Bordeaux). In Australia cabs are blended with the Syrah grape for the same reason.