As with every trip I make on behalf of DeafNation and my indebted sponsors, my goal is to bridge the gaps between nations for Deaf people with an entrepreneurial spirit, Deaf people that have jobs or own businesses will give back support to the Deaf community if I buy from them, because they realize we are doing the very same thing that gives them the proper first impression. Meeting Deaf people in different cultural settings touches every person that joins the No Barrier with Joel Barish tour.

I had just one more chance to close this trip on a strong note, and I decided to head for a special town called La Pintada, a town of only 3,700 residents, which is three hours from Panama City. It was to go see the very trademark of Panama, the Panama Hat. And to meet a famous artisan who creates the Panama hats. It was a great honor to meet such an artisan who made a name for himself making the Panama hat.

The Panama hat originated from Ecuadorian roots, a traditional brimmed hat that is made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant. Straw hats woven in Ecuador along with other South American goods shipped first to the Isthmus of Panama before moving on to Asia, the rest of the Latin Americas and Europe. Because Panama hats were in cargo always waiting to be shipped out of the Isthmus, the name “Panama Hat” stuck. This had been going on dating back to as early as the 19th century.

We found a magazine at the airport with a picture of the renowned Panama hat artisan, and upon seeing the pictures, we decided to pay him a visit, to see firsthand how Panama hats are made, and the awesome display of the hats.

We arrived at his place to his shock, which turned into joy, and welcome. The artisan was more than thrilled to show us what the Panama hats are made of. It was surreal to see how much hard work is put into making a hat, taking one month and a half to finish a top quality hat worth $450, Panama hats are made ranging from $15 to $450-plus.

I got a Panama hat for myself, who couldn’t resist getting a real and authentically made Panama hat? Straight from the famous artisan who made it. I don’t just buy from a regular store shelf, but directly from the maker himself, like coffee straight from the farm.

We drove to Chitre and met a well known Panama artist, Allan Vlises. Chitre is the capital of the Panamanian province Herrera, the name coming from the native tribe Chitra,  which are well known for carnivals in the city, like the Mardi Gras or the Rio De Janeiro  carnivals. There are celebrations coinciding with the Holy Week, Corpus Christi, and St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the city occurring there.

Artist Vlises took us down to Las Tablas, the capital of the Panamanian province of Los Santos, also a national center of Panamanian folk culture, and well known for their traditional celebrations.

Vlises introduced me to a Deaf wood artisan named Vidal Santiago, who has made many wood cabinets, furniture, frames, doors with full carved wood. Despite the fact Santiago never had a formal education, he just started his business three years ago after ten years of training. He started out by making his own carving tools, and earned money, re-investing the money into buying a more formal tool kit.

Santiago is currently making fifteen wooden frames for a church. He then will add the image of Jesus on each wooden frame. He is blessed to have such great family support, even from those in nearby cities, as far away as David, Chiriqui.

As I tried gesturing with him, his parents watched us, smiling approvingly because we could communicate with each other using gestures and signs. Santiago’s work on the doors were very professional, adding a lot of creativity to his handiwork. A quiet and shy man, he works hard to make his new venture succeed, he hopes to have his own big shop one day soon.

Like sand pouring into the bottom of a hourglass, time was running out, so we went to the home of a man named Allan who was well known in Panamanian culture for his art work. He has his own studio with no ceiling fan or air conditioner, which would have made his work environment cooler, because I was struck by the fact how hot weather can affect his work. Allan still produces despite the hot weather, and even maintains his business by finding leftover tiles, banners, canvases, car license plates, or other reusable items off the street. His M.O. is turning all these things into a beautiful work of art.

One particular piece of artwork, I wished to buy and bring it back to the United States, but the problem was, the painted fan can’t close, and if I closed it, the paint would fall off. Instead, I settled with a small painting from him to bring for hanging at my home office, to add to the other special handicrafts I like bringing home that Deaf people make.

Allan and I communicated very well via international sign language, he had the body language and facial expressions, Iris just sat back and enjoyed our discussions. We finally bid adieu, and off we went to return back to Panama City, arriving very late at night.

Before the last trickle of the sand fell in the hourglass, we had a chance to pass the Miraflores Lock in the Panama Canal for one last viewing.

“The Panama Canal is the most amazing and phenomenal work of construction in the world,” I reflected. The Panama Canal is one of the most difficult engineering projects mankind ever undertook. Then again, anything is possible in this world because we have the Pyramids of Egypt, the Stonehenges of England, and in this case, it was the Panama Canal of Panama.

I really appreciated the hospitality of Iris’s parents who offered us to stay at their place, which displayed some of her best work of art. While admiring the artworks created by Iris, I focused on a painting, one of the bigger ones, it was a painting representing two females as sisters. Iris’s father refused to sell it because it was such a perfect piece of art highlighting two sisters, in his eyes, that would be Iris and Melissa. I discovered that Iris’s sister Melissa works in the bank management.

Panama was so wonderful to me, offering so many cultures in one country for me to experience. They are building many new towers, shopping malls, and expanding communities, and there are many banks to choose from. I felt that Panama was a safe place to visit.

If you visit Panama, it is a must to visit the heavily forested Darien province, and Kuna Yala at the San Blas Islands which runs along the coast of the Darien province, it can be a bargain at affordable prices.

The last trickle of sand poured into the hourglass, and it was time for me to take a flight back into my home country, filled with new memories.

I’d bring the hourglass with me anytime.

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Related posts:

1. Stillness of Panama City
2. A Day at Panama Canal
3. Deaf School in Panama City
4. Run in with Deaf Tribe
5. David in the Province of Chiriqui: 4 Deaf Siblings and their Sugar Cane Farm
6. Journey to the Paradise Kuna Yala
7. Chirique Highlands: Coffee Farm & Mora Winery