Monthly Archives: August 2007

A Nonagenarian in our Midst

Badú or Malanga
Our Saturday morning visit turned into something of a holiday which made us seem like important relatives to be honored impromptu-like. “Where you’all from, New York?” inquired our hostess, and so we both, my wife and I, related that we were from the State of California, but had lived in New York for some time. Then she gave us a knowledgeable look about the subject of our people, the West Indians migrating to the States, at about the time I was reporting that I had left Panama, in the late 50’s. Continue reading

Luisa, a Clue from the Past

A beautiful, luxuriant mango tree like the ones I discovered in Luisa's front yard. Image thanks to www.pacificworlds.com

The congress in far away Bogota had been neglectful in securing that valuable strip of land in their Departamento of Panama known for transit since colonial times. They had placed complete trust in the hands of the North Americans who ran the almost deserted train line in the month of January of the year 1903. Continue reading

Negotiations and the Spooner Act

1898 political cartoon: “Ten Thousand Miles From Tip to Tip” meaning the extension of U.S. domination (symbolized by a bald eagle) from Puerto Rico to the Philippines. The cartoon contrasts this with a map of the smaller United States 100 years earlier in 1798. Image thanks to Wikipedia.com

The political climate in the country of Panama after the disgraceful sacrifice of General Victoriano Lorenzo on May 15, 1903 had left in place an ineffectual pedantic elite in government. The sureness of peace had led the Colombian army to almost abandon the small Departamento, or annexed province of Panama. Continue reading

A Preview of What Lay Ahead

We will soon be entering a dramatic and crucial period of time for not only the Panamanian people but for the United States and the world as well. What better way to introduce this eventful and dynamic chunk of history than with a visual presentation such as the one put together by Jeremy Segermeister, a very clever High School student who took a lot of trouble and time to put this video together? Continue reading

Times of Preparation for Independence

Panama's Flag

For the peasantry and the common people of Panama the terms called for in the Wisconsin Peace Accords of November 22, 1902 would turn out to be another one of the great betrayals that they would suffer before the close of the 20th century. Continue reading

An Epitaph to an Indian Patriot of Panama


From the moment he had discovered what was afoot General Lorenzo had unequivocally opposed the giveaway called for in the Wisconsin Accords. Only until today, in this precise moment, has it been recognized that General Victoriano Lorenzo, “that little Indian man,” was really the only who had gained vindication in the many battles his people waged and won. As some historians have said, “Victoriano Lorenzo, the only protagonist of the War of 1899, was a country farmer and an anonymous hero. (Tamayo 1940) Continue reading