With clothes but not spirits dampened, high schools, public institutions, security bodies and independent groups turned out in their thousands on a dreary November 3  to commemorate  115 years of  Panama's separation from Colombia.

President Varela and his wife, Lorena Castillo, whose image is facing increasing pressure as they enter the final lap of their administration with matching grey clouds from newly revealed corruption scandals began the celebration to the sound of cornets and drums at the presidential palace on the edge of  Bay of Panama.

The parades began mid-morning in Panama city and across the country.

Rommel Escarreola, historian and  member of the National Commission of the Symbols of the Nation said the wrong use of clothing and the flag  sometimes creeps in and  recalled that the country has a regulation for the use of national symbols dating from 2012, and said that most likely errors in its use "will be repeated, but less", over time.

What he most lamented is that, commercially, for example, the fervor of promoting national holidays is not so much felt as with other foreign celebrations that "have no relation with the historical values of the nation and the State. and what it does is confuse. "

But that was not apparent on Saturday with delegations of government ministries, police, firemen, border security forces, Sinaproc and women dressed in the pollera (Panamanian national costume).

Celebrations continue
Panamanians will continue their national holiday and pay tribute on Sunday, November 4 to the National Symbols ; On  Monday, November 5,  the consolidation of the separation of Colombia will be celebrated in the city of Colón and will continue on November 10 with the commemoration of the 1821 uprising  against  colonial Spain and is known as the "First Cry  of Independence of the Villa de Los Santos". On November 28 the independence of Panama from Spain in 1821, two months later than the rest of the countries of Central America will be celebrated.