Faces of Panama

Snapshot of Feliciano, our gardener for many years. He's an iconic figure in the neighborhood of El Bosque in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R./Michael Moore.

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Back to Mi Pueblito

After I brief hiatus, I’m back to Mi Pueblito’s theme admitting a picture of colorful benches available within the Caribbean and Amerindian village.  This area is located on the western part of Mi Pueblito, just a short walking distance from the Spanish village which I’ve described in great detail on this blog before.

This is the last leg of a magnificent tour through this highly visited tourist spot in Panama City, Panama beside Ancon Hill.  This area accomodates several wooden houses reflecting the Antillean and Amerindian culture.

African culture was brought to Panama mainly by thousands of migrants from the Caribbean which were contracted by the Panama Canal for the construction of the international waterway. The contribution Afro-Caribbean workers was crucial to the success of the termination of the canal.

Most of the Panamanian population of West Indian descent owe their presence in the country to the monumental efforts to build the Panama Canal in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Three-quarters of the 50,000 workers who built the canal were Afro Caribbean migrants from the British West Indies. Thousands of Afro-Caribbean workers were recruited from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Below is a picture of benches inside the section of the Afro-Caribbean village of Mi Pueblito.  More snapshots of this picturesque tourist spot will follow in the ensuing days.  Here we go.

Snapshot of benches in front of a African-Caribbean church at Mi Pueblito in Panama City, Panama. This type of architecture is found in many places in Panama like Rio Abajo, Calidonia, Colon, Cristobal, and Bocas del Toro. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

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Keeping our Toyota Corolla in Shape

After I sold my old 1985 Nissan Bluebird, I purchased a second-hand Toyota Corolla 2006.  It was in a very good shape, almost as new.  Paid for it $10,500 in cash.  Been using it for the last two years without a hitch.  According to my files the Corolla was purchased on April 26, 2009.

In order to avoid unnecessary inconveniences, I decided to use Toyota’s local dealer, Ricardo Pérez, S.A. to provide timely maintenance to the vehicle.  They have a service called, Taller Móvil (Mobile Shop).  The service consists in providing regular maintenance to their customers through a fleet of eighty trucks.  These trucks are really mechanic shops on wheels.  Everything a mechanic needs is inside these trucks:  hydraulic jacks, air compressors, electric generators and a lot of other stuff too large to list here.

Once you order a maintenance service by phone, the mechanic will visit your house and service the car.  Everything is done in approximately 1.5 hours.  They are as clean as a pussy cat and extremely courteous.  You have the option of paying either with a Visa credit card, or cash.

After rolling 60,000 kilometers, I needed a maintenance service, so I called Ricardo Pérez to schedule a visit.  We agreed on Monday, May 22, 2011 at 08:30 a.m.  They were on time, which is unusual in this part of the world.  The serviceman’s name was José Loré.  He gave me a beaming Colgate smile and explained me the maintenance program for the vehicle.  He did his job like a professional and charged $115.74.  That was the same amount given to me by Lesvia Mateo, receptionist at Ricardo Pérez by phone.  Everything  jived.  I signed a paper, filled in a satisfaction poll and paid said amount in cash.

Before José left, I asked if I could take his photograph.  He smiled and nodded yes.  I’m glad he accepted, since I was interested in capturing the event for Lingua Franca. 

Dear readers, this is José Loré who works as a general maintenance mechanic for Ricardo Pérez, S.A. in Panama City, Panama.  Here we go.

Snapshot of José Loré after finishing a general maintenance job for my Toyota Corolla on Monday, May 23, 2011. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of José Loré beside his mobile mechanic shop in front of our house at Residencial El Bosque in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

People like José are the invisible workers who turn the wheels of progress within a country.  People who sell newspapers on the street, people who give maintenance to air condition units, electricians, plumbers, street peddlers, people who sell hot dogs or rapaos; they all contribute to the economy of a country, but are never included in the daily paper’s headlines.

My respect to you all who makes Panama move forward to the Twenty-First Century.   I appreciate what you all do for us.  Thank you so much for your hard and honest work.  Good Day.

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The People’s Barber Shop

Picture of a humble lower income working class barber stop located at the neighborhood of El Marañón in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

During a photographic trip to the working class neighborhood of El Marañón, I stumbled upon this working class barber shop.  The owner was an enthusiast retired person who had problems making ends meet, so he gathered a few dollars and opened up this humble barber shop.

He told my wife and me, “If the government won’t increase my social security pension check, I will go out and rake in the dollars I need to live.  I have a good health, two good arms and two good legs, there’s nothing I can’t do.” That’s the spirit that makes nations great.  Good Day.

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Working for The Emperor

Photograph of two construction workers enhancing the walls of El Emperador Casino at El Dorado Mall in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Joke: Handyman Hoodunnit

A workman was killed at a construction site. The police began questioning a number of the other workers. Based with past brushes with the law, many of these workers were considered prime suspects. They were a motley crew:

The electrician was suspected of wiretapping once but was never charged.

The carpenter thought he was a stud. He tried to frame another man one time.

The glazier went to great panes to conceal his past. He still claims that he didn’t do anything; that he was framed.

The painter had a brush with the law several years ago.

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractor was known to pack heat. He was arrested once but duct the charges.

The mason was suspect because he gets stoned regularly.

The cabinet maker is an accomplished counter fitter.

The autopsy led the police to arrest the carpenter, who subsequently confessed. The evidence against him was irrefutable, because it was found that the workman, when he died, was hammered.

If English is not your native tongue, this joke could require a bit of help from an English speaking person.  However, if your language is English, you’ll enjoy the use of witty puns.  English is a difficult language, but after a while it gets quite fun.  Good Day.

Source:  Miss Cellania

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Workers

There are millions and millions of workers that make our companies operate like lean mean machines.  Most, if not all of these workers, are rarely highlighted or given recognition.  They punch in their assistance cards day in and day out, do their work and leave.  Nobody notices them, say Hello, congratulates them on their birthdays or tell them how valuable they are to the company.  I would say that management think these workers are taken for granted.

These common workers are our janitors, garbage collectors, drivers, watchmen,  general repairmen and so forth.  In a sense, they are our modern day robots.

During my recent visit to the University of Panama, I took a picture of two of these common workers.  One was a young woman sweeping the entrance of the School of Pharmacy, and other one was a gardener watering the plants.  Let’s take a look at these valuable workers that we often take for granted.  Here we go.

Photograph of Carlos, the gardener, watering the lawn and flowers early in the morning at the University of Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photograph of Carmen, the cleaning lady, sweeping the leaves at the main entrance of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

This post is to pay my respects to the millions of humble workers who are responsible of keeping our companies operating.  I tip my hat to you workers of the world.  Good Day.

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