by adminNo comment(s)SPECIAL GUEST
Our special guest for this edition is one of the most important personalities in Panamanian history, born in the District of Pedasi, and former President of the Republic of Panama between 1999-2004.
A graduate from the University of Miami Dade Community College in Florida, Mireya Moscoso was the wife to the political leader and three times President of the Republic Arnulfo Arias Madrid, as well as a protagonist of the projects that provided Pedasi with the infrastructure it required for its social development and future positioning as a destination of national tourist importance. Vision that today can be observed in every street, corner and person who lives or visits this sector of Los Santos Province. The Former President of the Republic dedicates part of her valuable time to speak exclusively with The Visitor-El Visitante, about her family, childhood memories in Pedasi, the projects she supported for the development of this beautiful town and her vision towards the future in tourism.
How would you describe Pedasi?
“The first thing I think about is my childhood when we talk about Pedasi. It is a town that has developed thanks to the warmth of its people and its natural beauties and the honest and hard work of many generations of men and women. Since I was a child, I remember that Pedasi was always a diverse place, with the presence not only of North Americans, but that it was always a special place that had a magnetism to make foreigners feel at home and the people of Pedasi always feel proud to belong to this district of hard-working people: fishermen, farmers, ranchers and other outstanding professions.
During my administration, what I did along with my team was to provide Pedasi with infrastructure and services to eventually converted into what it is today, and help develop all those picturesque characteristics typical of the town where I grew up.”
Describe two extremely endearing memories during your childhood in Pedasi and why are they?
“My father, in addition to being an educator and Director of the District College that today bears his name, was a farmer and my fondest memories are summer vacations. At that time, the roads that we have today to Destiladeros and Punta Mala area did not exist, so my parents, my 5 brothers and I went to the farm called Mateo, which is still in that sector and which at that time It felt very far from downtown Pedasi where we all lived.
My dad would wake me up at 5 in the morning carefully and whisper in my ear “Yeya, wake up, let’s go cow milking” and we would go milk his cows at dawn.
I lost my dad at the age of 11 but we always had a very special connection. That endearing farm now belongs to me and whenever I pass by, I remember those magical moments with my dad, a man who loved his town and his family.
I also recently remembered what we did when a small plane arrived in the paddocks, an unusual event for that time, and how we all ran behind it to feel the wind blow through our skin, perhaps with the desire to one day be able to touch the sky and expand our horizons.
Beautiful moments that I still share with friends who are almost sisters from my childhood and we laugh at the innocence of that time. I have many beautiful memories of my childhood in Pedasi, also with my grandfather Enrique Moscoso, the town’s self-taught doctor, who used to sit me on his lap while reading magazines on his porch when I was a little girl.”
How do you compare the Pedasi of your childhood and that of today?
“I think there is no comparison. Pedasi of my childhood was small, we did not have easy access to the town and it used to be difficult to get around for a very long time; but it was familiar, we all knew each other and there was an atmosphere of great trust, joy and healthy activities. Today Pedasi is connected to the world, with a tourism industry developed since 1999, and has much more to offer. Although many traditional families still have properties in the town, few know each other and there are many more people inhabiting the district, from Venao to Purio there are new things. Change and development are welcome, but we hope to keep it a safe District that meets the needs of its inhabitants and that the necessary adjustments are made so that the region and tourism can grow.”
What has encouraged you and the Moscoso family to support the development of Pedasi?
“My family came to Pedasi over 5 generations ago and from our first descendant, has made significant contributions to the Pedasi district. I grew up in this town and my whole family is from here, we knew the potential there was to develop this district, that’s why when I won the elections, I celebrated together with the entire District because I knew that we would be able to complete great projects. Together with my team, we laid the foundations for tourism and cultural development that other generations enjoy today and from which also the country benefits.”