EL
TAMBORITO:
Vinculando Panameños Hacia el Futuro con el Pulso y el
Ritmo de la Comunidad.
Por:
Dr. Marco Mason
Director Ejecutivo
Panamenos de la diaspora tienen una larga trayectoria historica
que consiste de cinco generaciones. Los aportes de esta poblacion
a el territorio nacional en termino de remitencias de recursos
financieros y materiales son ingredientes vitales para la economia
del pais.
En los Estados Unidos de America hay Panamenos en los cincuenta
estados. La concentracion mas grande se encuentra en el estado
de Nueva York. Se estima que hay alrededor de 200,000 Panamenos
en los Estados Unidos de America. Esta cantidad no incluye a la
gran cantidad de los indocumentados. Sumando la poblacion derivada
de los cinco generaciones de descendencia Panamena la cifra total
de Panamenos en los Estados Unidos facilmente pasa medio millon
de personas.
La comunidad panamena en el exterior mantienen vinculos solidos
con su patria. Por ejemplo recientemente, en el ano 2000. Casi
5 mil Panamenos regresaron a su pais de los Estados Unidos para
las ceremonias de la devolucion de el canal de Panama. En el ano
2003, unos 50 mil llegaron para celebrar el Centenario de Panama.
La Comunidad Panamena Americana consite de una poblacion sofisticada
multiracial, nacionalista, multicultural, multietnico y bilingue
(Espanol e Ingles) con alta asencion social que es transladada
no solo en poder economico, sino en un poderoso potencial politico
no solamente en los Estados Unidos de America, sino tambien en
Panama.
Existe una tremenda oportunidad para organizar y mobilizar la
potencialidad de los Panamenos en el exterior mediante simplemente
operando un organo de comunicacion utilizando los medios de communicacion
masivas y la technologia avanzadas para fortalezer los lazos familiares,
politicos, socials, econmicos, cultural y fraternal que vinculan
la comunidades diasporica con el pueblo Panameno en el terruno.
El vehiculo de vinculacion se basa en crear, producir y circular
a base de computadoras por correo electronico una revista virtual
que se publica mensualmente. La revista esta disenada como organo
de comunicacion e informacion para aquellos que estan interesados
en mantenerse latente atraves de la distancia, con el pulso de
la comunidad Panamena. La publicacion tendra secciones regulares
de editoral, comentarios y opinion. La revista pondra materials
variadas e informativos en el ambito cultural, civico, academico,
economico, politico, turistico, atletico, social, ecologico y
artistico que se desarrollan en las comunidades Panamenas en el
exterior y en el pais.
Apoya a “El Tamborito”, Su revista virtual electronica
Panamena. Envienos sus subscripciones, sugerencias, contribuciones
y las direcciones electronicos de otros compatriotas. Apreciamos
su apoyo. Viva Panama!
EDITORIAL:
Linking Panamanians towards the Future
with the Pulse and Rhythm of the Community.
With today’s state-of-the art, wireless, high speed, integrated
and every easy-to-use sophisticated communication technology,
it is possible to comment anybody, anywhere with the click of
a mousse. In this context Panamanians strive to be connected.
For example, every year, thousands of Panamanians in the U.S.
come together during the 4th of July weekend for the Panamanian
Friendship Reunion. Moreover, some 50,000 Panamanians residing
in the U.S. joined their fellow compatriots in Panama, this past
November, to celebrate Panama’s Centennial festivities.
Accordingly, under the banner, “Linking Panamanians Towards
The Future with the Pulse and Rhythm of The Community”,
we are pleased to present “El Tamborito”, an online
monthly Panamanian magazine. In October 2003, we successfully
launched the inaugural issue featuring “El Calendario Conmemorativo
del Centenario de Panama”. Please visit our website at to
check out the current issue.
The magazine is designed to keep you informed of important issues
and events in the Panamanian Community at home and abroad. The
objective are to foster positive and productive community relations;
provide crucial information towards enhancing the quality of life
for all Panamanians; connecting Panamanians at home and abroad;
promoting social networking and the exchange of ideas; hence,
give us your input and feedback, we want to hear from you. In
addition to the magazine’s regular features, which include
sections on editorial, announcements, personalities, perspective,
comments and opinions, the magazine will present informative coverage
of historical, academic, political, economic, cultural, health
and social issues.
“ El Tamborito” means the little drum in Spanish.
The term is a derivative of “El Tambor” which means
the drum. Drums are percussion musical instruments used, to entertain,
as well as, for special and solemn occasions. Historically, drums
have symbolic cross-cultural meaning such as to give signals,
to command, to summon, to call, to alert and to warn.
The native drums of Panama, the “Caja”, the “Pujas”
and the “Repicador” have special significance in Panama’s
folkloric tradition. They serve as the prime musical instruments
to lead the, “Tamborito” dancers. “El Tamborito”
is the national dance of Panama. It is more than a dance. It is
an expression of the Panamanian grace, faith, hopes, desires,
spirit and soul. It is Panama’s local operatic performance.
It is Panama’s typical and folkloric musical theatre. When
all three drums are played together they create a symphonic spell
binding orchestration of rhythmic and melodic beats and sounds
that intoxicatingly titilates the aural senses with their arousing
reverberations.
We invite you, indeed challenge you to read “El Tamborito”
and to get intellectually involved by sharing your views, personal
and professional news, comments, suggestions, calendar of community
and organizational events, as well as, the E-mail address of other
compatriots. Moreover, we encourage you to tell interested friends,
family members, and colleagues about “El Tamborito”.
Please send info to: marcomason@eltamborito.com. We appreciate
your support. Viva Panama!
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