Panama, Casco Viejo
Casco Antiguo, Panama
Real Estate For Sale For Rent
at Panama´s Historic Heart


On Wednesday an association presented the documentary The Beauty of the Fight at the Anita Villalaz Theatre in Casco Antiguo. It got me thinking on different angles, of how our communities are working to evolve and how the "what´s going on" can be perceive by an outsider and even inside the community. Lack of public information is crucial, and even of curiosity and research. Th

The photographic book is very beautiful, though. I think what I liked of it, other than the compelling photography, was the silent proposal that allowed the audience to ask questions, be intrigued. The film was basically a visually strong movie too, but it went to far as the research wasn´t accurate.  The author made many mistakes, filming Casco Viejo and confusing it with Chorrillo and Barraza, and blaming poverty directly to the US invasion back in 1989 which simply isn´t true: those areas were way poor before then. Latin America is poor not because of the USA "hand" but because of our own choices, lack of education and irresponsible governments through history.  Barraza and Chorrillo did have a lot of activity and decency in the 50´s , but fell further and further as governments started to lack attention to education , infrastructure and other long term issues which resulted in what you see today there.

I trully feel the movie lacked a tremendous opportunity not only to tell the story right, but to highlight the true Beauty of the Fight: for those who are working day to day to improve things.

In Casco Viejo, the fight is being fought by ngo´s such as Fundación Calicanto, who every year trains dozens of women into hotel skills, self esteem and home management, that will forever break the cycle of poverty at their households. The program has direct results that are being meassured.

Associations like Aprojusan, who have taken 30 kids from the streets and provide follow up with their schoolwork, their families, provide for art workshops, sicological support, computer laboratories, and many other things. For those 30 kids, they are the family outside home.

The Scouts, who point at the kids but also adolescents in risk and are teaching them discipline, team work, being together, family values.

The Fundacion Danilo Perez, who is healing through music, providing with unheard opportunties to talented kids from the neighborhood and even for the rest as music is only an instrument to grow as a person, as professional.

Even the Oficina del Casco Antiguo had been a pioneer in the area with their gang programs which I was lucky to see work and witness results. Gangs completely dismembered and now being useful parts of society. Work isn´t perfect and we need more of it. This is also true.

In Chorrillo, there are also beautiful fighters. Aguas del Chorrillo, and now Nueva Generación are basically the music school and the "aprojusan" of Chorrillo. They need support, and they deserve all the attention they can get.

I hope if anything, people who see the movie and buy the book understand it as for what it is: a sad showcase of poverty result of lack of leadership.  And I also hope they see the light: people fighting every day to be better, and they support it.