In 1949, Professor Manuel Fernando Zárate, together with a group of friends and relatives from their native land, Guararé, began a tradition that has become the folk festival of more popularity in the Republic of Panama. With more than sixty-two years, the Festival Nacional de la Mejorana in Guararé still cultivating the Panamanian folklore and protecting vernacular of the Panamanian peasant traditions.
Folklore contests at the festival
- “Gelo Cordoba” for accordionists aged 15 years.
- “Didio Borrero” for young accordionists between 7 and 15 years of age.
- “Colaco cuts” for violinists.
- “Gumercindo Diaz” for drummers.
- “Tiburcio Saavedra” Concurso de Carretas (represent the life of the peasants).
- “Lorenzo” Lencho “Vergara” dance contest.
- “Bernardo Cigarruista” tenth Sung gentlemen’s competition.
- “Happy Perez” tenth song for the ladies competition.
- “Manuel f. Zarate” tenth written competition.
- “Dora Perez, Zarate” clothing contest.
- “Martina Castillo” for Tunas.
- “Aristides Gil and Esteban Rodriguez” for mejoraneros.
Folkloric presentations
- The hell of mirrors of Portobelo.
- Clean little hands Ocuenos Los Parita.o Devils.
- Drummers of San Jose.
- Mejoraneros from Watchtower and Ponuga.
- Great devil of Garachine.
- Drummers of Chorrera and San Miguel.
- The Congos from Colon.
- El Torito Guapo of Anton.
Saturday, September 28
9:00 a.m. -Tenth eighth contest of child drum on the platform of children’s shows.
Children and youth delegations will run their regional dances at the meeting “Victorino”Fulito”Córdoba” on the platform of children’s shows.
10:00 p.m. -Tenth eighth competition for accordion children “Didio Borrero” sponsored by the Foundation Didio Borrero Espino.
12:00 p.m. – Thirty seventh competition of drum for adult “Gumersindo Díaz” sponsored by the Coop. José de el Carmen Domínguez, R.L.
2:00 p.m. -Traditional corrida de Toros.
2:30 p.m. – Delivery of “Dora Pérez de Zárate” prize, gold medal and plaque of recognition. Delivery of the decoration “Order Manuel F. Zarate”
3:00 p.m. -Grand finale of the fifty second competition of accordion “Rogelio” Gelo “Córdoba” sponsored by the Ministry of education (gold medal) and Cable & Wireless.
4:45 p.m. -Delivery of awards the winners of the forty-first contest of tenth written “Manuel F. Zarate”, sponsored by the Lions Club of Guararé.
5:00 p.m. – Twenty sixth competition of touch of Marjoram “Aristides Gil – Esteban Rodriguez” sponsored by companies Melo. S.A.
7:30 p.m. – Continuation of the tournament Grand of Marjoram. Adult delegations execute their regional dances in the twenty first contest of dances folk Lorenzo “lencho” Vergara.
9:00 p.m. – Tribute to two “folklore devotees” Hänssel and Mara Olimpia Garcia, medals sponsored by LIC. Ventura Vega.
10:00 p.m. -Delivery of the flag to the standard bearer of the traditional parade of carts
Sunday, September 29:
1:00 a.m. -Presentations of groups of cultural and folkloric projections.
9:00 a.m. -Meeting of delegations, participating in the Grand Parade of carts carts and the town in General.
Fourth contest touch of Marjoram children sponsored by companies MELO.
10:30 a.m. – Ninth edition of tenth child singing “Félix Pérez”, sponsored by LIC. Ventura Vega and companies MELO.
12:00 p.m. -Home of the great oxcart parade led by standard-bearer, during the parade will take place twenty fourth Tuna “Martina Castillo” contest, sponsored by the standard bearer and the tenth eighth contest of Carretas “Tiburcio Saavedra” both sponsored by the standard-bearer.
5:00 p.m. -Presentation of awards to the winners of the contest of Tunas and carts in the Palace of the Mejorana
8:00 p.m. -Scholastic “Colaco” Violin Competition Cortez
Large thirty-seventh night classical violins.