The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, was the guest of honor this Monday in La Villa de Los Santos, where he headed the commemorative events for the 204th anniversary of the First Cry of Independence of Panama from Spain. Accompanied by the First Lady, Maricel Cohen de Mulino; ministers, deputy ministers, directors of public entities, and local authorities, the head of state shared with the people of Los Santos in a day filled with fervor during the patriotic parades. The official protocol events began at Rufina Alfaro Park, where President Mulino raised the national flag, while the president of the Municipal Council, Samuel Mora, did the same with the flag of the Los Santos district. There, Mulino raised the national emblem once again, and the mayor, Raúl Montenegro Vergara, raised the flag of the Los Santos district. The honor of leading the Oath to the Flag fell to the young Paola Nicole Vargas Pinto, the student with the highest academic index at the Nicanor Villalaz Bilingual General Basic Education Center. The standard bearers of the parades in La Villa were José “Chema” Caballero, who received the national flag from President Mulino; and Orlando Reyes Fonseca, to whom Mayor Montenegro handed over the Los Santos flag. The moment served for the Municipality of Los Santos to present commemorative pins to President Mulino, the First Lady, the standard bearers, Miss November 10, María Alejandra Sáez, and Mayor Montenegro. The story of the heroic cry of Rufina Alfaro and the participation of the people of Los Santos in the struggle for Panama's liberation from the yoke of the Spanish Crown was narrated by the main speaker, historian and teacher Aris Calderón. The president and the authorities moved to the Church of San Atanasio for the religious Te Deum ceremony, officiated by Bishop Rafael Valdivieso. Subsequently, the delegation moved to the Cabildo House of the Museum of Nationality for the Solemn Session of the Municipal Council, where the Act of the Proclamation of Independence of La Villa de Los Santos of November 10, 1821, was read. Upon his departure, President Mulino announced to the councilors that he will soon return to Los Santos for the inauguration of the new Anita Moreno Hospital. Finally, President Mulino honored the memory of Panamanian history by placing floral offerings in front of the busts of the hero José Vallarino and the Liberator Simón Bolívar. The head of state sent a greeting and congratulations to the people of Los Santos, and highlighted that the Cry of 1821 was an “event that marked a before and an after” in the feeling of profound nationality that resides in the heart of all Panamanians. Along with the First Lady, members of his Cabinet, and local authorities, the president headed to the Justo Arosemena Medina Municipal Palace, where he appreciated the musical talent and patriotic fervor of the bands and student and institutional delegations. At the outset, Mulino placed a floral offering in front of the Bust of Liberty, paying homage to the heroic act of Rufina Alfaro's cry. Subsequently, the president and the authorities walked down 10 de Noviembre Avenue to Simón Bolívar Park.
