Elizabeth Tavares

It sounds like you have just received your assignment to educate the populous that Panama did not gain “independence” from Colombia on November 3, 1903. I admit that I am a guest in this wonderful country, but when the holiday arrived and I asked natives of Panama what the holiday was, I received the same answer over and over again and that was that it was the Independence Day from Columbia.

Then when I did a search on the Internet, I also found that the preponderant amount of sources were also confused and thought that Panama received its independence from Colombia on that day.

From you and Diego, I take it that you are being taught differently. Now a good task for you would be to work on the rest of the world and teach them the correct facts as you see them, based on the facts that you can produce. You might want to start with the US Embassy in Panama which posts the following page in its website.

http://usembassy.state.gov/panama/about/holidays.html

By the way Mauricio, you have some wonderful photos in your blog.

Thanks for stopping by.

Don Ray

Chiriqui Chatter does not claim to be to be an historical authority. However, if you do a Google search on “Panama November 3, 1903”, I think the majority of information you will find states that November 3, 1903 is the day that Panama declared itself independent from Colombia. So rather than starting at the bottom of the reporting chain (Chiriqui Chatter), if you want this date reflected differently, start with the top historical references.

Anyway you look at it, before that date Panama was a part of Colombia and following that date it was independent. If you are a part of something and you separate from it, you have become independent of the other entity.

Again, I don’t write history. I just read it.

The celebration on November 3, 1903 is not Officialy a Independence day. it is the day Panama “separated” of the Great Colombia alianz of south american nations in response to threats from spain taking back their old colonies. So November 3, 1903 is Officialy Separation of Colombia.

Chiriqui Chatter explains why Panama has two independence days in the same month.

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