The town of Pedasí showed the world our culture and tradition in a parade and ceremony, which culminated with the National Anthem’s musical notes.
This Saturday the town of Pedasí, dressed in gala to receive 35 worldwide sports delegations to participate in the World Surfing Games.
Entering town, one could admire the different visiting country’s flags that were adorning the lodging sites. “This site won’t change for a few days” a local expressed, since this event won’t be over until July 2nd.
The town’s residents seem happy “it’s an immense joy for the locals”, says a villager. “It’s an opportunity to be seen by the whole world and for them to get to know our culture and traditions”, another one expressed.
A Visit Around Town
The day before the parade, we visited around town to get the locals point of view. Mrs. Elena Barahona, in charge of the ‘Petra Antonia Díaz de Moscoso’ Library, tells us that the town is very excited about this parade and that through meetings in the Library, with the corresponding authorities, they have agreed to dress in traditional clothes.
We also spoke with Mrs. Yira Jiménez, she makes ‘tembleques’ (tremblings, name given to traditional hair accessories because of their movement) and says that this parade “is something unique which everybody is awaiting”. “The town of Pedasí doesn’t talk about anything else, this is a very happy moment”, she expresses. Traditional food will be sold and it was agreed with the restaurants that they do likewise.
”All of this activity will benefit the town’s economy”, she assured.
Later on, in the entrance to the Hotel Casa de Campo (where the press conference was held) we met with Mrs. Neri Moscoso and Mrs. Marila Moscoso, both in charge of an exhibition of traditional skirts, tembleques (traditional hair accessories) and textile art designs to make skirts with, among other beautiful traditional objects of Panama. They express their joy about all these activities, and “to be able to show our tradition to the worldwide media as well as to the visitors”.
In the press conference Tutti de León, Organizer, assured and clearly stated that all the investment and installation of optical fiber to provide internet for the event will be kept by this town for its use
NATIONS PARADE AND CEREMONY OF THE SANDS
The parade started at four thirty in the afternoon with the musical band of the school of Pedasí and after them came each of the different countries sports delegations with their flags, accompanied by children dressed in typical attire. Between every third sports delegation, something typical from the area (like skirts, traditional “tamborito” dance and devil dances) paraded by.
The “Ceremony of the Sands” took place in the main platform, which consisted of each of the delegations bringing a little bit of sand from their beaches and placing it in a common container, in this way signifying “world union through surf”. Panama brought sand from Venao Beach, the place where this tournament is being held.
Entering town, one could admire the different visiting country’s flags that were adorning the lodging sites. “This site won’t change for a few days” a local expressed, since this event won’t be over until July 2nd.
The town’s residents seem happy “it’s an immense joy for the locals”, says a villager. “It’s an opportunity to be seen by the whole world and for them to get to know our culture and traditions”, another one expressed.
A Visit Around Town
The day before the parade, we visited around town to get the locals point of view. Mrs. Elena Barahona, in charge of the ‘Petra Antonia Díaz de Moscoso’ Library, tells us that the town is very excited about this parade and that through meetings in the Library, with the corresponding authorities, they have agreed to dress in traditional clothes.
We also spoke with Mrs. Yira Jiménez, she makes ‘tembleques’ (tremblings, name given to traditional hair accessories because of their movement) and says that this parade “is something unique which everybody is awaiting”. “The town of Pedasí doesn’t talk about anything else, this is a very happy moment”, she expresses. Traditional food will be sold and it was agreed with the restaurants that they do likewise.
”All of this activity will benefit the town’s economy”, she assured.
Later on, in the entrance to the Hotel Casa de Campo (where the press conference was held) we met with Mrs. Neri Moscoso and Mrs. Marila Moscoso, both in charge of an exhibition of traditional skirts, tembleques (traditional hair accessories) and textile art designs to make skirts with, among other beautiful traditional objects of Panama. They express their joy about all these activities, and “to be able to show our tradition to the worldwide media as well as to the visitors”.
In the press conference Tutti de León, Organizer, assured and clearly stated that all the investment and installation of optical fiber to provide internet for the event will be kept by this town for its use
NATIONS PARADE AND CEREMONY OF THE SANDS
The parade started at four thirty in the afternoon with the musical band of the school of Pedasí and after them came each of the different countries sports delegations with their flags, accompanied by children dressed in typical attire. Between every third sports delegation, something typical from the area (like skirts, traditional “tamborito” dance and devil dances) paraded by.
The “Ceremony of the Sands” took place in the main platform, which consisted of each of the delegations bringing a little bit of sand from their beaches and placing it in a common container, in this way signifying “world union through surf”. Panama brought sand from Venao Beach, the place where this tournament is being held.
The platform was filled with folklore presentations such as a dance named “el punto”, another named “tamborito”, carnival music and “saloma” (typical voice sounds with no lyrics). One could observe the visitors happily enjoying the show.
The Minister of tourism, Salomón Shamah, gave a worldwide welcome. “Welcome! Look atwhat the waves have broughtt us today. A wave is the most powerful thing in the world, this is what I have been seeing and learning in the last two years, how surf brings wonderful things, just with one wave of the ocean. Nothing else is needed, just the salt water’s strength creating a wave, to create a sport, to create an investment, to create tourism, to create wealth and above everything to create world union. All of this is created by only one wave, so I would like to give an applause to all the waves in the world, that have brought all of you here today”, Shamah said.
With the conclusion of the parade and the “Ceremony of the Sands” the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games were officially inaugurated.
Source: La Prensa
Author: Denisse Gonzalez
