In an atmosphere filled with emotion, faith, and gratitude, relatives and friends of Mariato, in the province of Veraguas, celebrated the 104 years of life of one of its first inhabitants, Don José Inés Avilés. A man considered by many to be a fundamental pillar in the history and development of this community, he has also been the recipient of several tributes for his altruistic ideas.
At 104 years old, he recalls as if it were yesterday the harsh vicissitudes he faced with his family during the first decades of his arrival in Mariato, when there were no means of transportation or communication systems, and living conditions were extremely difficult for those who chose to settle in this southern region of Veraguas.
Today, Mariato is recognized as one of the most prosperous and growing districts in the province of Veraguas, a progress that many residents attribute to the man who was willing to change one day the future of what is now a district of progress.
At 104, he remembered his 17 children and the rest of his family, but also his first friends.
Another of his relatives, Aída Avilés, stated that one of the most transcendental contributions attributed to her father is having been the first to think about the creation of a school, envisioning education as the basis for progress for future generations.
Emiliana Avilés said that her father has a lucid memory full of memories.
Incredibly, this man of advanced age briefly commented that he still reads the newspapers Crítica and Panamá América, although he admitted that only with glasses.
That initiative marked a before and after in the history of the district, making academic training a central axis of community development, even when the settlement of people in that then inhospitable place was just beginning.
Surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Mr. José Inés sang the traditional 'Happy Birthday' in an emotional family act, in which he prayed to God asking for health, protection, and blessings for him and for all members of his family, reflecting the faith that has marked his life for over a century.
