International Book Fair reveals Panama reads ,ore than one would think. Great Interest
- By : James Bryson
- Category : Local Culture
‘Panama does read’, one of the slogans of the 2022 International Book Fair (FIL), was demonstrated with a full house during the five days of the event. After two years of being done virtually, it returned in its face-to-face format to a new home, the Megapolis convention center.
The attendees were eager to obtain knowledge, acquire books, meet the writers who were present; and participate in the more than 300 activities that were carried out, including workshops, talks and talks. In addition, in some stands there were dynamics for children to learn in a fun way.
National and international writers present their most recent books. As was the case of the young Mexican writer Flor M. Salvador, who days before the fair sold out the tickets for her book signing of her.
“The fair has connected young people, we had writers who were no more than 25 years old and already have their books published, that seems great to me and at the same time, that commits the Ministry of Culture to a great responsibility to rescue the nation’s printing press in order to cause more editions of books and that they are accessible and that our writers have a chance to print much more” expressed the Minister of Culture Giselle González Villarué to La Estrella de Panamá .
Also present were international writers Renato Cisneros, Mariana Paloma, Carlos Mateo Valmeli, Cristian Alarcón -Alfaguara award- Julio Prado, Liliana Bloom, Walter Riso, Carmen Mola -Planeta award, three writers of which two arrive- Bernardo Fernández, Alberto Villarreal, Silvia Quezada Camberos, Patricio Sturlese.
Panama had an important participation with 95 national authors. In addition, the culture of the country was highlighted with puppet plays on characters such as the Tinaja, the Cutarra, the Violin and the Dirty Diablico, at the Ministry of Culture stand.
On behalf of the Ernesto J. Castillero R. National Library, the presentation of new publications from its editorial was carried out, as well as a conference on Panamanian music. Some of the works they presented were: Essays, documents and speeches , by Eusebio A. Morales; Essential anthology , by Roque Javier Laurenza and The novel of imperialism in Central America , by Esther María Osses.
Like every year, this edition of the FIL opened the debate to topics of social interest. He brought to the table gender equality, sexual education, migration in Panama, the recovery of learning, blackness, the inclusion of indigenous peoples, the environment and freedom of the press.
The door was also opened to issues of climate change and the environment. The ‘Climate Mural’ workshop carried out by the European Union allowed attendees to analyze the phenomena that affect the planet.
Called to attend education in Panama
The president of the Panamanian Chamber of Books (Capali) -organization in charge of holding the event-, Orit Btesh showed her emotion for the attendance of so many young people and children at the fair.
In his opening speech, Btesh gave an example of how countries that have been at war have protected books about their history, “Defending cultural heritage is what defines us as a civilization.”
The president of Capali called on the country’s authorities to support young people who have dropped out of the educational system, “the most dire of all evils is indifference and apathy, especially now, when the departure from virtuality is coming.” With a red alert, a Unicef study carried out in 2021 already warned that some 130,000 children and young people between the ages of 4 and 20 in our country were outside the educational system.
Btesh added: “As if that were not enough, World Bank calculations from 2021 indicate that 90% of 15-year-old students who did go to school do not have the minimum level of learning. It is not possible to move forward without them and we will surely go backwards if they do not qualify to get a job, the population that survives from the sad culture of charity and donations will increase (…) we trust that education will be a priority for this government and the following in the short, medium and long term.
“Social justice is built on work, not on conformism, there is no honor in receiving without giving in return, receiving money will not end poverty in the same way that distributing diplomas will not end ignorance”, added the president of Capali.
For his part, the ambassador of the European Union in the isthmus, Chris Hoornaert, stated that it is an honor for them to have the opportunity to participate in an event of this type. “We are delighted to give more information about the European Union, we will have with us one of the literature prizes and some of the European authors so that they can share with people.”
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