The Sacrifice That Changed Panama's Destiny

The history of Panama is woven with the threads of the bravery of the eaglets. May this monument be a lighthouse that guides our steps, reminding us that the defense of the homeland and its highest ideals is a task that has no end. Honor and Glory to the Martyrs of January 9th! The Sacrifice That Changed the National Destiny. The events of January 1964 were not mere riots; they were the turning point that redefined the destiny of Panama. Honor their memory with your academic excellence, your civic spirit, and your commitment to truth and country. Keep the flame of dignity alive: The spirit of January 9th does not extinguish with territorial sovereignty; it projects into the daily struggle for a more just, transparent, and equitable nation. The National Institute is more than a school: It is the crucible of national consciousness. But fate willed that this act be carried out today, with heads held high, but with mourning in our hearts because it was precisely on Student Day that the tragedy of two drowned students occurred, they were girls. Long live sovereign Panama! Journalist Alberto Velásquez delivers a stirring speech. Graduates of the National Institute from various promotions officially inaugurated a commemorative monument in the courtyard of that historic high school, to evoke the patriotic feat of January 1964, which marked the beginning of the process of recovering sovereignty in the areas of the Panama Canal and decolonization of the territory. Next, Bayano digital reproduces the text of the speech given at that ceremony by journalist and public relations Alberto Velásquez, representative of the 1957 graduating class. Dear students, teachers, directors of the glorious National Institute, graduates from different promotions, and distinguished personalities present here today: We find ourselves today in this historic corner of our 'Nest of Eagles,' to be witnesses and protagonists of an act of profound transcendence: the unveiling of a monument that immortalizes the memory of a heroic feat, forged right here, between these buildings and in this courtyard. This monument is not just a set of granite slabs and a copper plate; it is a monument to indomitable bravery and the patriotic fervor of Panamanian youth. It commemorates the students of our Institute who, as of that January 9, 1964, turned this courtyard into a workshop of dignity. It was the trigger that led, years later, to the negotiation and signing of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977. Thanks to that spilled blood and that unwavering courage, the infamous Canal Zone was eliminated. Thanks to that sacrifice, the total return of the Panama Canal to Panamanian hands was secured, achieving the longed-for sovereignty over our territory. Commemorative Monument. This monument was due to be unveiled on Student Day. We have to draw attention and meditate on how the money obtained with so much sacrifice is spent. Today, by unveiling this monument, we not only look to the past; we look to the future. Young 'institutores' and teachers, this monument is a moral mandate. A river without the construction of a bridge, which, in a country, with the billions received from the operations of the Panama Canal, should have been built a long time ago. Look at it and remember: Never forget the sacrifice of the martyrs of January 9th. The courage of the students and the indignation of an entire people forced the historic break in diplomatic relations with the United States. This act of sovereignty irreversibly accelerated the path towards historical justice. We, the graduates of these same classrooms, on our own initiative, dedicate this humble monument to those who opened their chests for the dignity of the homeland. Here the leaflets that did not shout hatred, but a just claim: that of sovereignty, were printed. Here the slogans that demanded compliance with an agreement and, more deeply, the assertion that in Panama, only one flag, the Panamanian one, deserved to wave unconditionally throughout the national territory, especially next to the American one in the then-called Canal Zone, resounded. Canal Zone that limited not only us, the students, who from our windows felt the weight of American colonization. The history is clear: our youth, armed only with a flag and their ideal of the homeland, marched to enforce a commitment, meeting as a response disproportionate violence. They are our Martyrs, the seed of full sovereignty. Long live the National Institute! The sovereignty we enjoy today was achieved at the cost of the lives of young people like you. The cost of that day was immeasurable: the loss of 21 valuable Panamanians and a large number of injured.