Chame Celebrates its 153rd Anniversary

Last week marked 153 years since Chame was founded as a district. To celebrate 20 area schools from Chame, Capira, San Carlos, Chorrera, Arraiján and Antón came to march in a parade and pay to homage to the people of the area.   The Parade started early in the morning at Rafael Maduro elementary school and went through the main streets of Chame. Each school unit was headed by their best students bearing the Panamanian flag and the school’s standard. Each school came with its own band and baton corp or gymnastic corp. Some marchers wore school uniforms, while others were dressed in polleras and montunos. The parade finished around 3:30, where participants and audience left to continue celebrations in homes and cantinas.

This small District of 3,520 km² of area and 21,000 habitants is located on the savanna region of the Pacific and is formed by eleven “corregimientos” or parts: Chica, Sorá, Buenos Aires, Las Lajas, Bejuco, Punta Chame, Nueva Gorgona, El Líbano, Sajalices, Cabuya and Chame.
 
For the people like Teodora Gonzalez, who have lived in this district all their lives, Chame is a quiet place to live. Teodora feels this district has many things to offer. “In Chame we have beautiful beaches and mountains that are very close. The tourist developments taking place right now will improve the quality of life for all Chame residents”, she says.

For people, who are relatively new in the area, like Yasmín Palacios and Richard Guillén, Chame is a land of opportunities. Richard moved to Chame 8 years ago ti improve his economic standing. He was previously working at a nursery for Riba Smith. Now he owns his own landscaping and gardening business and he is pleased with his decision to make the move to Chame. “When I first moved to Chame”, Richard says, I was bored, because this is a very quiet town. But now I learned to love the stillness and I don’t miss the noisy life of Panama City. I have been moving from one place to another my whole life, but I think I will stay in Chame for a long time, because there are a lot of opportunities here”.
 
Yasmín Palacios, another newcomer to Chame, also moved here from Panama City. While she would prefer a bus system that runs more frequently with wider routes, she concurs that Chame is a peaceful place to live. “I moved here to be closer to my job in Coronado. While I’m accustomed to having more options for things to do in an area, I have met a lot of friendly people here and there are very good possibility for jobs in this area.”

Myself, I love Chame. I was born in this area and have spent my whole life here. Many things have changed in this small piece of land. I can see how my district is growing and developing and that makes me feel proud. Sometimes I use to miss the old times, when life was simpler and people used horses for transport and children played traditional games that are totally forgotten, but life is like that, everything changes.