By: Joalsib Beitia G.
Crowning the celebration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, on the morning of August 15, 1519 a city is founded, in the name of Queen Joanna of Castile and her son, King Charles I (V) of Spain. That city was named “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Panamá” (Our Lady of the Assumption of Panama). The first European settlement on the Pacific shore it was also the Capital of Castilla Aurifica or “Castilla de Oro” (Golden Castile).
Today, commemorating five (500) hundred years of foundation of the City of “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Panamá”, now known as Panama City, I would like to brief its amazing history, so as to remember how past achievements have led to where it is now: a full-of-challenges panorama drawn over the canvas of a prosperous future.
Given its unparalleled geographical position, the city soon became the focal point for exploring and conquering much of the New World (i.e. Peru). It quickly rose as an integral transit route for gold and wealth that was shipped to the XIV century Spanish Crown from the Pacific coast of the American continent.
The news of the wealth traversing the city spread through the world. Many scholars believe this contributed to the events that took place in 1671, when the city was attacked by the forces of Sir Henry Morgan. During the attack, in a desperate attempt to defend the city’s population, Captain General Juan Pérez of Guzman ordered to evacuate the city and to detonate the gunpowder stores. The ensuing explosion caused a great fire that burned most of the city to the ground. Nowadays, only a handful of the original city’s ruins remain. The ruins – including the cathedral tower that survived the blaze – are now a tourist attraction known as the historic-monumental complex of “Panamá La Vieja” and are recognized as a world heritage site.
Years later, in 1673, Panama City was rebuilt in a new location two (2) km west-southwest of the original city at the foot of the Ancon Hill. This site is now known as the “Casco Viejo” (Old Town) of the city.
Following Panama’s independence from Spain in 1821 and its voluntary annexation to Simon Bolivar’s “Gran Colombia” (Great Colombia), Panama City passed from being the capital of “Castilla de Oro” to the Capital of the State of the Isthmus.
The 1848 California Gold Rush caused the isthmus to flourish as the commercial boom followed the route of travelers crossing the North American West Coast. Later, in 1855, the Panama Railroad began operations, contributing to the city’s economic expansion. The railroad was the first transoceanic railroad joining Panama City in the Pacific Coast with the Atlantic Coast of the isthmus.
“With blazing glares of glory”[i], in 1903 Panama declared its separation from Colombia, and Panama City became the capital of the new Panamanian nation. This event drew a new paradigm to the destiny of the newly-born nation alongside the construction of the Canal. The city underwent improving infrastructure in aspects such as health, the eradication of yellow fever and malaria, the reconstruction of streets and sewerage, and the introduction of the first potable water system.
In 1917, the Panama Ship Registry was created and its headquarters are presently located in Panama City. With over a century promoting seaborne trade, Panama is currently the world largest State-owned Ship Registry with more than 8,000 vessels, summing up 217 million GT, which represents 17% of the world fleet.[ii]
During the 1970s and 1980s, Panama City became one of the strongest banking centers in the world, along with New York City, and the most powerful finance and insurance center in Latin America.
At present, the metropolitan area of Panama City, which includes the districts of Panama and San Miguelito among other districts, exceeds 1.7 million inhabitants in one of the most advanced and cosmopolitan cities of the American continent. Moreover, the city hosts several ports surrounding the Pacific entrances of the Panama Canal, specialized in handling containerized, bulk, liquid, and general cargo, as well as passengers in cruise terminals, which play a very important role in the performance of the Transshipment Hub in which the Republic of Panama has become. Droves of tourists visit every year, drawn by holiday attractions, world-class hotels and restaurants, casinos and international shopping centers. Business travelers pour into the city for its banking center, insurance and reinsurance centers and its imposing architecture which is among the highest in Latin America.
History has shown how the Panama city was forged and that it was and is conformed by passionate men and women driven by vision, strong social values, willingness to share its culture, and eager to shape a better tomorrow to the heat of idealism and hard work.
As one of its proud citizens, it is with great joy that I salute Panama City on its 500th anniversary.
Joalsib Beitia G. serves as a Paralegal for the Shipping section of Arias B. & Associates.
[i] “Con ardientes fulgores de gloria” in Spanish. In reference to the lyrics of the National Anthem of the Republic of Panama.
[ii] Official data from the Panama Maritime Authority’s web page.
