The seniors were at the Boquete Fair on 16 January, the day dedicated to them.
Ana Teresa de Gómez, president of the National Federation of Associations of Seniors, was invited to be the Grand Marshall.

However, the Chiricanos (or maybe the Boqueteños) were not so hospitable. Presidenta Ana Teresa traveled to Boquete accompanied by members of various associations. They all went prepared to participate in a sports activity, a parade with a murga and an onstage cultural act. The sports activity went well. However, the murga never appeared; thus there was no music for the parade. The presidenta and her entourage still walked around the town, singing gaily, then onto the fair grounds. The reception brindis was a small cup of coffee and a pack of biscuits, for which the presidenta as well as the members of her entourage had to form a line. The stage was set, but not for her and her dance group. There was "no electrical power" nor anyone to "get it going".

After standing around (yes, standing because seats were not offered) for at least twenty minutes, the members of the delegation decided to call it quits and just visit the fair exhibits. About twenty minutes after we had all dispersed the stage lights went on and the cultural activity began. Unfortunately the presidenta was not sought out nor was her dance group invited to participate.

We made the best of our trip by just being together and later boarding our bus to return to our temporary dwelling site, the former Franciscan Seminary just outside of Boquete. Early the following morning we made our way to breakfast in David then back to Panama City.

©2001 The Panama News