Panama is a vital reference for the development of rural and religious tourism
Expert from Extremadura, Spain states Jaime Ruiz Peña, director of public enterprises in Extremadura Spain, was in the delegation that accompanied the Duke of Veragua, Cristobal Colón de Carvajal, during a recent visit to the Republic of Panama. The descendant of the emblematic Admiral responded to an invitation made to him by Castilla de Oro Foundation. In an interview with one of our reporters, Ruíz Peña talks about how this process of rapprochement is articulated and strengthened with the mayors and the governor from the Panamanian province of Colón. Ruiz Peña, who is always accessible and willing to answer anything that is related to tourism, remembers that some months ago he had a meeting where he invited the Castilla de Oro Foundation to learn about the Extremadura’s development model, after they told them they were trying to implement a comprehensive development model for Panama’s interior. Following that visit the Castilla de Oro Foundation decided to bring mayors and governors to Extremadura to see how it was possible for a region of Spain (lagging 25 or 30 years) without a coastline to have a surprising boost by betting on rural tourism. “After the visit by Colón’s mayors and governor they invited me to come and see if it was possible to transfer the Extremadura development model to Panama’s interior zone,” recalls Ruiz Peña. “That’s what I came for on this trip. We also want to help in religious and pilgrimage tourism,” says the interviewee with a specialty in hospitality, not to mention having been president of rural tourism in Extremadura. “The impression I have is of the enormous potential for historical, natural and ethnographic products that the zone from Panama’s interior has,” says Ruiz Peña. “Obviously the Castilla de Oro Foundation’s decision to bet on supporting the region’s development with a different tourism model is correct.” “For example, Portobelo and San Lorenzo are humanity’s heritage and they have yet to develop their enormous potential,” he said. Referring to the teacher Pascual Montañés, Ruiz Peña says that “the great vision that the teacher Pascual Montañés had when looking for a region in Europe that could be a reference for Panama since there are many similarities when highlighting the tourism issue. It has been a very special trip for me in one sense as well as being a knight of the Virgin of Guadalupe on a precious meeting we had in Portobelo which has to do with the Black Christ.” Referring to Portobelo and the Black Christ, the director of public enterprises in Extremadura says “Portobelo and the Black Christ is one of the largest religious destinations in Panama. I am a knight of the black virgin. The Virgin of Guadalupe is hispanity’s patroness and I came with the task of finding a place in Panama in order to bring the lady 500 years after language and religion entered this beautiful land.” Ruiz Peña describes his experience in Portobelo’s church interior as follows: “Being there in awe of the enigmatic, mysterious and powerful figure of the Black Christ and, much to my surprise, the Virgin of Guadalupe was presiding over the altar. I was certain this was the place I had to take the lady, the Virgin of Guadalupe. When I told the pastor, a lovely man, about bringing the Black Madonna to Portobelo we decided to talk to the bishops and knights so that in a year we can bring the Black Madonna, the Virgin of Guadalupe, Spain’s most important, to Portobelo.” About the Pact of San Lorenzo Referring to the Pact of San Lorenzo, Ruiz Peña points out that “public office is or is not there, what is there is people’s commitment… I promised Colón’s governor to do everything possible to make Fort San Lorenzo a top-level monster resort because I am absolutely certain we can make it one of the most important destinations in Panama and the Caribbean.” What does it entail? “It has already begun because I have seen Castilla de Oro Foundation’s great interest and we have begun a feasibility analysis. Is it feasible or not to make San Lorenzo a world tourist destination? What is clear is that we have done a thorough analysis linked to the cruise ships issue, how many visitors go, how many of them leave and so on.” Referring to entrepreneur Richard Fifer-Carles, Castilla de Oro Foundation’s backbone, Ruiz Peña does not hide his admiration for the tireless entrepreneur. I had the opportunity to meet with Richard Fifer a memorable day in Caceres’ old quarters, a businessman like him, powerful, from mining and so on; whom I did meet was the person. Having seen him on the Andalusian ride and a number of sites, I think a person with such spiritual charge is spiritually a very reliable person. I was surprised by the capacity he has right now to develop Castilla de Oro and the great corporate social responsibility work he is doing. My group is one of the most important in Spain in terms of corporate social responsibility. I have seen his life, I have seen his ability to create illusion, movement in the environment through concrete projects, restoration of squares and I have liked it; I have been an entrepreneur with great vocation in corporate social responsibility, remarks Jaime Ruiz Peña finally. 
The general director of public enterprises in Extremadura, Spain, Knight of the Order of Our Lady of Guadalupe, poses in front of the image of St. James, in the city of Penonomé, Coclé, prior to the pilgrimage made to give this image, donated by the Castilla de Oro Foundation, in St. James square of the city of Natá de Los Caballeros,. He is accompanied by the Bishop of the Diocese of Coclé, Monsignor Urias Ashley, the Duke of Veragua, Cristobal Colón de Carvajal, president of Castilla de Oro Foundation in Spain, and Professor Pascual Montañés Duato, president of the Castilla del Oro Foundation in Panama.
The image of St. James, built of bronze, was an embodiment by the Spanish sculptor Luis Martin de Vidales.
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on August 19, 2011 at 8:35 pm
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” Referring to entrepreneur Richard Fifer-Carles, Castilla de Oro Foundation’s backbone,
http://rfifer.com/index.php/petaquilla-contemplates-environmental-prevention-and-mitigation-measures-in-colon-and-cocle/
on August 19, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Permalink
I had the opportunity to meet with Richard Fifer a memorable day in Caceres’ old quarters, a businessman like him, powerful, from mining and so on; whom I did meet was the person. Having seen him on the Andalusian ride and a number of sites, I think a person with such spiritual charge is spiritually a very reliable person.
http://richardfifernow.com/index.php/bm-could-finance-the-petaquilla-project/
on August 19, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Permalink
I had the opportunity to meet with Richard Fifer a memorable day in Caceres’ old quarters, a businessman like him, powerful, from mining and so on; whom I did meet was the person. Having seen him on the Andalusian ride and a number of sites, I think a person with such spiritual charge is spiritually a very reliable person.
http://richardfifernow.com/index.php/bm-could-finance-the-petaquilla-project/