Ethniticities Magazine - March Issue 2017

Gente - Orígenes - Cultura 

Urenna Best 

Successful and 

Extraordinary 

Businesswoman, 

Lawyer and Host of 

Panamanian TV Show 

Conexión Caribeña 

Page 25 

Keeping the health 

of our children’s 

mouth 

Page 37 

Bad Hair does not exist, 

Interview to 

Sulma-Arzu Brown, author 

of this wonderful book! 

Pag. 22 

Volume 9 - March 2017 | www.ethnicitiesmagazine.com

Stephany Salazar

#VisitPanama 

Location: Metropolitan Park

CONTENT 

Editorial Letter 

By: Licda. Keila Salazar de Moreno 

Entrepreneur vs Finance.............................................................................3 

By. Dr. Daphney Visuete 

Let’s Talk about Entrepreneurship..........................................................6 

By: Ethnicities Magazine 

LatinAmerican Airlines Characters.......................................................12 

By: David García Zamora, B.A. 

I’m Backpacker Chef.................................................................................15 

By. Chef Isaac Villaverde 

Fashion Gets Political................................................................................18 

By: Ninna Ottey, B.A. 

Bad Hair Does not Exist, interview to Sulma-Arzu Brown, author 

of this successful book............................................................................22 


Successful and Extraordinary Businesswoman, Lawyer and TV 

Host, Urenna Best......................................................................................25 


How do I help my child study?...............................................................33 

By: Derissa Simmons, B.A. 

When School Begins You Automatically Become become Nurse, 

Driver, Tutor AND Counselor............................................................35 

By: Anilú Candanedo, B.A. 

Keeping the health of our children’s mouth......................................37 

By: Dr. Vania Barrow 

Sugar: Sweet Enemy ................................................................................40 

By: Licda. Veronica Hidalgo 

Are there still “negreadas” (ignored) Panamanians?.....................44 

By: Dr. Alberto Barrow 

22 

25 

Interview with Urenna Best 

Business Woman, Lawyer 

and TV Host 

Get to know Sulma-Arzu Brown, 

author of the book, Bad Hair does 

not Exist 

1 

**Ethnicities Magazine investigates the seriousness 

of their advertisers, but is not responsible with related 

offers they do. The opinions expressed by the authors 

do not necessarily reflect the position of editor of the 

publication. total or partial reproduction of the content 

and images of the publication without prior authorization 

of Ethnicities Magazine is strictly prohibited. 

37 

Keeping the health of our 

children’s mouth 

By: Dr. Vania Barrow

PRESIDENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Keila Salazar Moreno, B.A. 

info@ethnicitiesmagazine.com 

ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND COLLABORATOR 

Judith Rapley Waterman, M.S.W. 

judith@judithrapley.com 

GRAPHIC DESIGN 

Stephany Salazar, B.A. 

stephany.salazar20@gmail.com 

PHOTOGRAPHS 

www.pixbay.com 


COVER PHOTOGRAPH 


PHOTOGRAPHS OF MAIN INTERVIEW 


MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 


MARCH COLUMNISTS 

Anilú Candanedo, B.A. 

Chef Isaac Villaverde 

Derissa Simmons, B.A. 

Dr. Alberto Barrow 

Ninna Ottey, B.A. 

Dr. Vania Barrow 

Dr. Daphney Visuete 

David García Zamora, B.A. 

Verónica Hidalgo, B.A. 

Keila Salazar de Moreno, B.A. 

SPANISH VERSION EDITOR 



Ing. Tanisha Salazar de Mendoza 

ENGLISH VERSION EDITOR 

Judith Rapley Waterman, M.S.W. 

WEBMASTER 


EDITORIAL LETTER 

The months are going by fast! We are already 

in March 2017 and do we have many 

interesting topics prepared for you! 

I want to express as always my deep and 

eternal gratitude to our columnists whose 

contributions make Ethnicities Magazine 

interesting and substantial every month 

for each one of you. If you have questions 

about any of the articles found in this or 

previous editions, you can email us, and 

we’ll create a Q&A section with the reply to 

your questions from the writers. 

As you noticed, this month we have on our 

cover a great businesswoman, activist and 

tv program host, Urenna Best. I invite you 

to read more about her in each of these 

facets and the message she brings to you 

through her life experiences. 

We also had the privilege of interviewing 

Sulma Arzu Brown, writer of the book Bad 

Hair Does not Exist. Please get familiar with 

her story, her incredible book and how it’s 

changing the lives of little girls who with 

their parents’ support are now wearing their 

natural hair. 

Also, remember to stop by our segment, Let’s Talk about Entrepreneurship, to check the two 

entrepreneurs we present there to you. 

I leave you with these and other very interesting topics to be found in our edition N ° 9 of 

Ethnicities Magazine. 

I appreciate your unconditional support as always. 

Enjoy Ethnicities Magazine March Issue! 

If you want to send me your comments, feedback or contributions, please email me at info@ 

ethnicitiesmagazine.com, and I will be glad to review it. 

With love, 


President and Editor in Chief 

Ethnicities Magazine 

www.ethnicitiesmagazine.com 

2

LET’S TALK ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP 

3 

EMPRENDEDR VS FINANZAS 

BY: DR. DAPHNEY VISUETE 

COACH FOR WOMEN & BUSSINES 

MUJERESBELLASYEXTRAORDINARIAS@GMAIL.COM 

If we were to do a survey on the main limitations 

that a person has to go from a dream 

to the achievement of a goal, one of the first 

would undoubtedly be the budget acquisition 

to do it. However the ideal and optimal 

conditions to start a New venture from zero 

does not exist. 

By definition, the term entrepreneur comes 

from the French entrepreneur, used to refer 

to an individual who organizes and operates 

one or several companies, and assumes 

some financial risk. In other words if you 

decide to start today, take it for granted that 

you need to be prepared to have some sort 

of financial risk or difficulty. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself. 

Why has money stopped your dreams? 

How did you relate to money over the years? 

Do you think that your amount of prepara- 

tion and studies is comparable to your wallet? 

How much does your lack of money affect your 

emotions? Do you sometimes feel that you are 

always running behind money? Or do you generate 

enough money but it’s leaving you like water? 

These questions can reveal belief patterns regarding 

money and therefore that same relationship 

that you have brought over the years 

with Mr. Money may be blocking your undertaking. 

Once you define your patterns or even attitudes 

regarding the generation of money, you 

should reprogram yourself little by little, if possible 

with the help of a Coach, to establish new 

beliefs about it.

Pearl of Prosperity: 

Your wealth is not in your 

pocket, but in your head. To 

see your bank 

account full, you will have to 

see it first in your brain. 

On the other hand, you need to have defined your entrepreneurship in black 

and white or a simple but defined business plan. That goes from name, 

vision, mission, values, who you want to reach, with how many people you 

must initiate, investment and profitability of the business. If you do not 

know how to raise your own venture, it will be very difficult for an investor 

or a bank to provide financing. Do it thinking that tomorrow you will climb 

an elevator and you will meet Donald Trump and you will have one minute 

to present your business and get the money you want. 


If you have a clear 

vision, your entire 

environment will be 

accommodated to 

reach it. 

Begin creating your brand online. Nowadays we 

have the great advantage of having social networks 

that allow you to have an online business, 

depending on the item, without even having it 

physically. This allows you to create a portfolio of 

customers interested in your products or services 

and in case you are still working, you will not start 

from zero, when you decide to dedicate 100% of 

yourself and time to your business. I was surprised 

and fascinated to see how we can find online 

from clothing store, makeup and even cars. Many 

of those people started by opening a Facebook 

fan page, Twitter account, Instagram, Pinterest, 

Snapchat, Free Market, Amazon, etc. This will 

allow you to generate small start-up revenues, 

polish your business proposal to make it more attractive 

to the market and define your interested 

audience. You don’t need to be an expert in networking 

to get started. Over time you should gain 

your own experience and have digital marketing 

knowledge or seek a consultant in that area, but 

start now! 

4


We live in the computer 

age, if your 

business is not online, 

it does not exist. 

Become an expert in your endeavor. 

Dedicate one or two 

hours a day, maybe just after 

you get home from your current 

job, to your business idea. 

Do your work from the technical 

part but also include personal 

growth and leadership, 

financial management, attend 

webinars online (many of them 

free), relate with other entrepreneurs 

and study success 

stories. In other words, be passionate 

about your dream and 

only that way you’ll be able to 

share your vision with others. 

Without doubt the money will 

come. 

ETHNICITIES 

Your ad can be here! 

Contact us for more information: 



Follow us:


BY: ETHNICITIES MAGAZINE 


Contact information: 

Email: eec.base@gmail.com 

Ella Es Cosmetics 

Telephone number: +1 929-352-0319 

Instagram: ellaescosmetics 

6


WHO WE ARE? 

Ella Es cosmetics is a line of beauty products that 

caters to the diverse shade ranges and undertone of 

Woman of Color in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

We believe that make up should enhance our natural 

beauty, not hide our flaws. Ella Es is intelligence, strength, 

courage, beauty, sexy, daring… It’s whatever women 

and girls choose to be. 

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO? 

Ella Es cosmetics was born out of the unaddressed 

cosmetic needs and desires of Afro-Latinas. For far too 

long throughout Latin America women of color have 

been underrepresented and/or ignored by the beauty 

community. There is a void in the range of shades 

for our varied and diverse skin tones, which ultimately 

have left women no choice but to wear shades too light 

for their complexions. Ella Es cosmetics exists to 

fulfill this void. Our foundation contains skin protective 

properties and is long-wearing in tropical climate. You 

will not sweat it off! 

EEC is a platform where Black beauty can be celebrated. 

As we cultivate our identities as Afro-Latinas in 

our countries of origin and abroad, we’re learning more 

about our history, our uniqueness, our talents and our 

general fabulousness. Shouldn’t we have cosmetics 

that reflect it as well? EEC is just one platform to encourage 

women of color to expand their horizons. We 

are a family-ran, woman-ran business. We envision a 

beauty industry that educates and builds relationships 

with others who celebrate the beauty and accomplishments 

of women of color and promotes entrepreneurship 

for women and girls. 

WHERE WE DO IT? 

Our launch will take place in Panama and sub 

ly throughout the region. As an Afro-Descen 

Panamanian, I have witnessed firsthand th 

tent and frustration of Panamanian wome 

surrounding beauty and access to product 

dress our specific needs. Panama is a micr 

our regions’ rich racial and ethnic history 

descendant and Indigenous women typically 

dertones that range from red, yellow, olive, c 

and neutral shades. Mainstream cosmetic 

disappointed us. Our skin responds differen 

sun, retains and reflects colors in unique wa 

have a wide spectrum of complexions to cat 

do not have to look far to know that this is a p 

other Latin American Countries. 

7

sequentdant 

and 

e disconn 

of color 

s that adocosm 

of 

. African 

have unool, 

warm 

lines have 

tly to the 

ys and we 

er to. You 

roblem in


Facebook Cool Creations507 

Instagram @coolcreations507 

Whatsapp 6484-9668 

Jacqueline D. Vreux L. 

I’ve drawn and painted all my life. But I started this 

project about 12 years ago, when my son was always 

wanted superhero designs on his shirts or caps and 

many of them were difficult to get in Panama or were 

very expensive. 

I offer all type of designs on fabric items. They could 

be on t-shirts, caps or sneakers. The designs can be 

originals or taken from the internet. 

Any of the customer preferences can be made. At this 

time there is an existing demand in Afro designs and 

Panamanian culture and those two are the ones I have 

really focused on promoting. I get a lot of demand from 

people in the USA to buy articles with images promoting 

Panama’s Culture, 

The difference of this process with sublimation or serigraphy 

(screen print) must be made clear. It is an 

acrylic based paint, also carries varnish and also goes 

through a heat process.This is completely handmade 

and unlike the silkscreen the image does not disappear 

over time nor with multiple washes. It also does 

not fade. This is a lifetime quality product. 

My experience as an entrepreneur has not been easy, 

as it often requires much paperwork and demands 

for either business opportunities or seed capital. 

But there is always something you can do. And 

more now with the rise of arts and crafts fairs. 

You just have to know what is best for you, and 

see what else other than social networks provide 

good opportunity to market and reach potential 

customers and buyers. 

For all those who want to start a business, I suggest 

that they must first know what they are going 

to dedicate to specifically. I faithfully believe that 

we have all been given gifts, it is only a matter of 

waking them up and making them produce. Many 

may think that working for themselves and being 

their own boss is easier. 

It is the opposite, since it is not waiting to have a 

safe pay day. It is day to day work. The day you 

don’t produce is a day you will not collect. There 

will be many obstacles and many times your closest 

people will not believe in your work although 

this has not been my case. The good thing here in 

Panama is that the situation is not as difficult as 

in other places in terms of materials and supplies 

so you will see some type of gain after your investment. 

What I have noticed that it is not very 

common in this environment to dedicate to your 

9

usiness at 100%. Most of the people have their 9-5 

jobs. We also deal with the fact that since we are not 

used to a craftsmanship culture many people prefer 

to spend more on a recognized brand than to support 

a local craftsman. 

Where others see a simple shirt, I see a canvas. I can 

not see a wall or a blank space without imagining that 

I can draw or paint something on it. 


10

ETHNICITIES 


For more information, email us at: 



Follow us:

LATINAMERICAN AIRLINES CHARACTERS 

BY: DAVID GARCÍA ZAMORA, B.A. 

ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF: DAVID GARCÍA ZAMORA 

TRANSLATION: DAVID GARCÍA ZAMORA, B.A. 

DAVID@PDVGLOBAL.COM 

Latin American Airlines, the graphic novel by David García Zamora, 

shows an unprecedented cross-section of our society by presenting at 

least three characters from each Latin American country. We’ll start this 

showcase with those hailing from Panama: 

12DISCRIMINATIONIS

DISCRIMINATION IS 

ANYOLÍ ARAÚZ 

Age: 19 

Birthplace: Panama City 

Marital status: Single 

Height: 1.84 m 

Socio-economic status, at birth: Low 

Socio-economic status, present: High 

Anyolí’s father, a junk salesman, fled to the U.S. 

after a run-in with the local mafia. The cash remittances 

that he wires --whose provenance is not 

clearly defined-- has turned the Araúz family into 

notorious Panama City noveau riche. Anyolí considers 

that her material wealth and opulent lifestyle 

will disappear as quickly as they arrived. 

ETHAN ARAÚZ 

Age: 8 


Marital status: Single 


Socio-economic status, at birth: High 


Unlike Anyolí, Ethan believes that he is entitled to 

wealth, as it’s the only lifestyle he has known since 

birth. Both his neighbors and schoolmates come 

from well-to-do families and he has adopted their 

poses. attitudes and values. And since his mother 

does nothing to dissuade him, it’s up to Anyolí to 

put his feet back on the ground… but it’s not an 

easy task. 

13

MANUEL LLANES 

Age: 58 


Marital status: Married (bigamist) 


Socio-economic status, at birth: Low 


Manuel is one of the most mysterious characters 

of the 82 that comprise Aerolíneas 

Latinoamericanas cast. He utters no more 

than three phrases in Act I, but his presence 

imposes upon everyone he addresses. His 

employment activity is self-described as either 

“farmer” or “trader”. However, his passport 

states that he was born in Spain… and 

he’s very alert of his cell phone. 

ETHNICITIES 

@ethnicitiesmagazine 

E-mail: info@ethnicitiesmagazine.com 

Website: www.ethnicitiesmagazine.com

AFRO PANAMA FOOD 

I’MBACKPACKER CHEF 

@whoisjisaac 

BY: ISAAC VILLAVERDE 

CHEF / ENTREPRENEUR 

isaacvillaverdem@gmail.com 

I’m a #BackpackChef, which means I’m always 

ready to take a plane to cook anywhere in the 

world. The first time I went to cook in Bocas Del 

Toro for several days I was very anxious, since I 

did not know the local market, and knew some 

supplies would be difficult to get especially with 

the complication that the dates coincided with 

New Year. 

At one point I sat down to think of all the details 

and remembered a name: “Joseph Archibold” (@ 

Josephosebold). 

I was already following him on the social networks 

and I had read a couple of his interviews. He was 

also the winner of the Panama Gastronomic Chef 

Challenge 2016, an event that I followed from the 

New York networks. This Bocas trip during the 

New Year was the perfect occasion to call him and 

ask him a couple of questions about logistics and 

supplies in his land. 

Joseph greeted me warmly and from that moment 

I knew that at some point we would work together. 

15

I never imagined it would be so soon. In a second call 

I proposed to do a Kitchen Take Over in one of his two 

restaurants (@octo_bocas and @receta_michila) and 

he liked the idea. This is how the first “New Year’s 

BBQ Pop-Up” was born in collaboration with Joseph 

and my #KitchenSister Kary Keene at @Octo_Bocas. 

Octo is a place full of history, since it is located in 

what was the house of the grandfathers of Joseph, 

in Isla Colón. Joseph now gives it different use. It has 

its own orchard, a warehouse and a trailer/kitchen, 

with everything that’s necessary to make traditional 

Caribbean food of high standard. 

My chef vision was clear. I wanted to cook the food I 

grew up with, applying all the gastronomic and hospitality 

knowledge acquired around the world all these 

years. 

For two days, Kary and I worked under Chef Joseph’s 

instructions for what would be our first Kitchen Take 

Over. 

At about 5pm local diners, visitors and guests began 

to arrive and by 9pm we had sold all the food! 

The compliments for the food did not cease and the 

experience of cooking next to one of our own was 

invaluable. 

I want to thank the Octo Team, Joseph, Lucy (wife 

of Joseph), Hugo and Noah (son of Joseph) for their 

hospitality and for such a successful event. 

If you pass through Isla Colón, do not forget to visit 

Octo. It will be an unparalleled experience, full of flavor 

and traditional colors with modernism. 

See you on January 1, 2018 for our “New Year’s BBQ 

Pop-Up Vol. 2” 

16

Services: 

Graphic Design 

Create arts for POP materials, advertisings, 

stickers, flyers, catalogs, business cards, 

arts for social media, logos, banners, posters 

and other adaptations of the arts for newspapers 

and magazines. Also, creation of characters. 

Video Edition 

Creation and editing of videos, addition of 

music or audio, texts and storyboard. 

Photography 

Use of Professional Camera, photo sessions, 

product shot, pet shots and more. 

For more information: 

(507+) 6949-7688 

stephany.salazar20@gmail.com 

Windows Mac OS Microsoft 

Office 

Adobe 

Photoshop 

Adobe 

Illustrator 

Adobe 

Indesign 

Adobe 

After Effects 

Adobe 

Lightroom

FASHION 

FASHION GETS POLITICAL 

POR: NINNA OTTEY 

notteymc@gmail.com 

For many people in Panama, February is synonym 

with carnivals, but for those who are passionate 

about fashion, it is the month when the most important 

designers from different fashion capitals 

like New York, London, Milan and Paris present 

their new collections. In this case, the Fall-Winter 

2017-2018 collection. 

As usual, the fashion month started in the city that 

doesn’t sleep, New York. With the political tension 

arriving Trump’s entrance to the presidency of the 

United States, fashion got political. 

“Fashion is a sponge in terms of what is 

happening in culture”, said the Thai-american 

designer Thakoon Panichgul just before 

presenting his last collection. 

Several brands and designers took seriously 

their support of minorities and subordinated 

people in America, these being the themes 

this year including rebelling against the Muslim 

Ban of the new American government. 

18

FASHION 

Muslim community which the indonesian designer 

Anniesa Hasibuan knows all too well. Last year 

she made history when all of her models came out 

on the runway with hijab. Haute Hijab is the name 

of Hasibuan brand who is dedicated to design for 

Muslim women, showing the world that they are 

allowed to be fashionable too. 

In her latest collection she strongly marked her 

ideology of inclusion contracting models that were 

immigrants, visa and green cardholders and first 

or second generation American. Undoubtedly, 

Hasibuan is and will be a designer who will give 

us much to talk about in both world politics and 

fashion. 

MARC JACOBS FALL 2017 

Designers like Michael Kors and Prabal Gurung 

also gave strong inclusion messages having 

plus-size models like Ashley Graham and Candice 

Huffine on the runways. Not to mention the slogan 

t-shirts at the end of the shows of Prabal Gurung, 

Christian Siriano and Public schools which ended 

with phrases like: The Future is Female, Love is 

Resistance and People are People. 

New York presented the 1990s as its fashion 

trend. That decade represented and promised 

community, diversity and unity including the 

release of Nelson Mandela from prison. This 

milestone that marked and still marks a change 

in the history of apartheid and discrimination in 

the world. 

Even though Marc Jacobs didn’t made any 

political statement in his interviews, his inspiration 

speaks for itself. His latest collection is 

one hundred percent inspired in the black world 

and the hip hop era. His starting point was the 

Netflix documentary: The Hip Hop Revolution. I 

could not help it but see Shaolin Fantastic from 

The Get Down, in some of the proposed outfits 

for the next season. 

19 

Another brand that included a political connotation 

in his nineties-minimal style on the Black 

Lives Matter theme was that of Nicholas K. 

Most of the models used gold and black berets, 

the style being a reminder of the The Black 

Panthers, who defended the minorities during 

the strong era of civil rights movement. 

Talking about minorities in the XXI century is 

also talking about the now heavily-attacked 

NICHOLAS K FALL 2017

PRABAL GURUNG FALL 2017 

New York has definitely become more and more 

politically creative, proving that fashion is not just 

superficial. 

Yet New York is not the only capital that is democratizing 

fashion. 

London is the capital that is the expert in terms 

of fashion and diversity. The Teatum Jones brand 

completely appropriated the diversity subject and 

got inspired. The Fall 2017 collection called The 

Body | Part One offered a soundtrack full of quotes 

by the acclaimed actress Meryl Streep’s speech 

from the past Golden Globes criticizing the incompetence 

of Donald Trump and his mocking of a 

disabled journalist. 

They not only used two disability models, but the 

complete collection was also inspired for Autumn/ 

Winter 2017 by artist Hans Bellmer’s mutated doll 

forms, a direct rejection of the cult of the seemingly 

perfect body now prominent in Nazi Germany. 

Milan was not far behind in the politics and Angela 

Missoni was very clear on her statements, showing 

support to the Women’s March that took place in 

Washington last January. At the end of Missoni 

fashion show, the models came out wearing pink 

knit pussy hats including the whole Missoni clan 

and Angela’s mother, Rosita. Angela gave some 

inspirational words inviting everyone to join “to 

show the world the fashion community is united 

and fearless”. 

Even the Italian-Haitian designer, Stella Jean was 

inspired in her own way by the Cold War era in 

her latest collection and spoke unambiguously 

about the current relationship between Russia 

and United States. “Nothing is clear now” she 

said. 

We all knew since last November 8, that the 

world would take big steps against the current 

ruler of the United States. The fashion world 

decided not to fall behind, showing their support 

against any kind of discrimination. Undoubtedly, 

this is the moment of not giving up on hope and 

to keep remembering that before being Black, 

White, Muslim, Jew, fat or thin… We are all human. 

20

FASHION 

ETHNICITES 

@ethnicitiesmagazine 

E-mail: info@ethnicitiesmagazine.com 

Website: www.ethnicitiesmagazine.com

PERSONALITIES 

BAD HAIR DOES NOT EXIST, INTERVIEW 

TO SULMA-ARZU BROWN 


Who is Sulma-Arzu Brown? What are your roots? 

Where were you born? 

I am a proud Garifuna Women from Honduras. I 

specify from Honduras, because we have Garifuna 

people in Guatemala, Belize and Nicaragua. 

The Garifuna people are the black caribs living on 

the coastline of Central America. Because I was 

born in Honduras and not Belize (the only English 

colonized country in C.A), this also makes me an 

Afro-Latina. 

How did you get to the point of writing your 

book BAD HAIR DOES NOT EXIST/PELO 

MALO NO EXISTE; when was this book born? 

I call this book an ordained body of work. It 

was gifted to me by God, after I was able to 

respond to my child’s caregiver from a place 

of love when she used the colloquial term 

“pelo malo” to describe my then 3 year old 

daughter’s hair. The caregiver was a wonderful 

person and cared for my daughter like no 

other. She also had respect and appreciation 

for my family. There were times when she 

even combed my daughter’s hair when I did 

not have time to. So when she used this descriptive 

term, I had to keep all of that in mind. 

I also had to understand that my response at 

that moment would stay with my daughter for 

22

PERSONALITIES 

When did you decided not to get your hair relaxed 

anymore? 

It was a hot humid summer day about 4 years 

ago. I found myself going to the salon too much 

because of my business meetings. And spending 

too much money! So I had my beautician cut it all 

off. When the hair cut was completed, I finally gathered 

the strength to really examine myself in the 

mirror. It was as if the two year old Sulma met 

the 30+ year old Sulma and gave each other the 

warmest embrace. We were finally back together! 

When I got home that day my oldest daughter 

took a sigh of relief and said “Mommy we finally 

look alike”. 

Do you think you are meeting the objectives of 

BAD HAIR DOES NOT EXIST/PELO MALO NO 

EXISTE? 

ever. Words have power and children are imitators 

of the parent. When that happened, I gave her proper 

terms for our hair and asked that we work as 

partners to empower our girls. I promised I would 

find her a book that I could read to the children. 

The book I was looking for did not exist, so I had to 

write it. It took me 5 minutes. I heard a divine voice 

telling my spirit person to get the notebook and my 

pen out of my briefcase and start writing. The book 

was literally the alternative terms I gave the caregiver-short, 

long, curly, straight, etc. After writing the 

book, I called my best friend Isidra Sabio to create 

the images. Each image was very strategic. We 

took inspiration from family and friends, all different 

sizes, shapes and professions. It was the world 

through our lens. 

23

Are the readers feeling motivated and are they encouraging 

their girls to wear their natural hair? I had no idea 

so many women were victimized and scarred by the 

term “pelo malo”. It gave them the courage they needed 

to stand up to their bullies. The book’s purpose I think 

was never to have people be a part of the natural hair 

movement. I think that it was meant to be a part of the 

back to your essence revolution. I think people have 

the right to wear their hair anyway they want. So long 

as it’s not to run away from who they truly are or to be 

something someone else believes they should be. I do 

however encourage them to give their essence a chance 

to see the world. 

Instagram nopelomalo_sulma 

Libro disponible en Amazon - 

https://www.amazon.com/Hair-Does-Exist-Pelo-Existe/ 

dp/098882406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488287091&sr=8-1&keywords=bad+hair+does+not+exist 

Do you have plans of having this book sold in bookstores 

in other countries? 

This book needs to be in EVERY COUNTRY, IN EVERY 

SCHOOL AND IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD. I sell through 

Amazon and that makes it possible. If not, PLEASE call 

your family in the States and have them ship the book 

to you. There is no reason why our children should be 

without this book . Self esteem is the building block 

of our existence and will play a huge role on what we 

contribute to this world. I encourage all White people to 

have this book too - our world needs more cultural sensitivity. 

We need to stand together in cultural solidarity! 

What are your future projects for promoting this book 

out of the U.S.? 

At this point, I am looking for global brand partners and/ 

or endorsement to facilitate book tours and conferences. 

I am working on a few proposals to make that 

happen. However, I need people like you to spread this 

message across all social media so that my book sales 

can significantly increase which will to prove its validity 

to the brands. I also need the help of the readers to let 

everyone know to buy this book. It’s on Amazon. My 

goal is to sell 10K copies this year. 

What is your message to our girls who are trying to 

decide to go back to their roots? 

Give every aspect of yourself an opportunity to soar! 

The world may give you limits, but with God we are 

limitless. 

24

PERSONALITIES 

URENNA BEST, EXTRAORDINARY AND SUCCESSFUL 

BUSINESSWOMEN, LAWYER & TV HOST 


Urenna Best, we consider that you are a 

great example to follow in the Afrodescendant 

youth and we would like to first tell a 

little about you, Who is Urenna Best? From 

what age you’ve been actively involved in 

the African descent movement? 

First of all thank you very much for the opportunity 

to share my experience, I really feel very honored. 

I was born in the beautiful province of Colon and decided 

from very young to go in after of my dreams, 

and I had a very difficult childhood, but thank God, I 

understood very young that the only way to change 

was through education. 

My dream then was to become a prestigious 

lawyer, my inspiration was the Chief of Justice 

Graciela Dixon, but unfortunately at that time, the 

career did not exist in Colon, for that reason and 

with the help of my Grandfather Egroy Gayle, (RIP) 

and who I thank wholeheartedly for what he did for 

me, I had to leave everything I went to study at the 

National University of Panama, experience which 

I thoroughly enjoyed and gave me the foundation 

to transform my life much beyond I ever imagined. 

Thanks to my studies in law, I could make 

my first trip abroad which definitely completely 

changed my way of seeing life. After participating 

in different facets of my life and the confidences of 

people who believed in my potential and that motivated 

me as my uncle Mario Parnther (RIP) and 

25

whom I consider one of the most brilliant 

minds I could meet in my life, I decided take 

an MBA in Madrid, in the CEF, which culminated 

with a clear understanding of what 

it means to be a foreigner trying to outdo 

other borders. 

On the second question, unlike many people 

of my generation, I did not enter ... I was 

born in the Afrodescendant movement, 

which has existed in different expressions, 

some more formal than others, but in fact 

has been true since the revelation of our 

ancestors now we know as a social movement, 

but before was cimarronaje, revolution, 

but I define it as a brave act of rebellion 

against a system, it manifested unfair from 

the ground. 

My Mother, Elvia Gayle Best and my Father 

Booker Best, felt since I was conceived, that 

I would be an example of African pride they 

felt, so they decided to name me Urenna 

Akenke, both African names, the Igbo of 

Nigeria. Urenna means: Pride of His Father 

and Akenke: means see it is love her or see 

her is love her. Based on this reality and the 

environment dominated by Afrocentrism, in 

which I was raised, I learned to grow very 

proud, not only of my Caribbean culture but 

different cultures that are part of the Pan 

African dream, I grew up reading stories of 

courageous people, listening music that 

invited you to reflect and witnessed deep 

discussions about what was happening 

around the world, such as apartheid in 

South Africa, social inequalities in Brazil and 

even in our country and the marked racial 

tension that is still lived in the United States 

and many parts of the world.

PERSONALITIES 

What was your experience as an activist, 

what were your greatest challenges and 

accomplishments? 

Although I was born within the movement, does 

not mean I was always happy with it, I felt that 

my environment was so immersed in political and 

social struggle, that many were forgetting simply 

to exist and enjoy the beautiful moments of life 

together with their families, including my mother, 

that has always been a brilliant woman, activist, 

fighter for human rights, but sometimes found 

on television, chained in the streets demanding 

social justice for Columbus and felt many times 

people did not appreciate the effort she was doing 

and tried to swear to myself that I never would be 

activist, I tried honor that promise when entering 

the Faculty of law and Political Science, and even 

always thought completely dedicate me to world 

of business, but when you have social conscience, 

you can hardly escape your mission or at least 

part of it. Before finishing the race an activist 

of African descent and women movement, Lic. 

Cecilia Moreno, to whom I owe and I thank you; 

came to visit my mother to my grandfather house 

and there he saw me, and he loved the fact that 

he was so young and was about to graduate from 

Lawyer and told me ...need young people like you 

become more involved in the movement, then I 

looked and told him that if someone wanted to start 

a business to tell me, but never less! When I finished 

degree in law at the same time stop believing in conventional 

politics, and I passionate for Human Rights, I 

spent more than a decade of my life fighting intensely, 

so many voices hitherto unknown, were heard and that 

me He led to join the struggle that existed long before 

I arrived and will continue to exist, while continuing 

social injustice. 

I participated Women Network, I coordinated networks 

and articulations of youth both nationally and internationally, 

contributing in some way to create spaces 

from their own perspectives, to really transform their 

realities. 

A major challenge at first was very young, in spaces 

that had historically been dominated by older people 

with experience and conviction. The first thing I did 

was prepare to understand and learn all you can and 

the next was open spaces for participation, I considered 

were needed, using the tools that had given me 

and respect to the sun today, wisdom and knowledge 

have always who had arrived long before me and have 

been my mentors (as) teachers (as) and exceptional 

guides. Another challenge and I feel I am still facing, 

is show my generation the value of these tools and 

experiences with those who before us and preceded, 

and that only through intergenerational work, as they 

have made other cultures, We will overcome the major 

social obstacles facing our communities both in Panama 

and internationally. 

27

Before talking about achievements I want stress that 

they were only possible by the collective work of leaders 

young at national and Egbert Wetherborne level, who 

was for me one of my teachers and the younger mentors 

I had in my career, Meyvis Blackman who in today 

is the National Secretary of Youth Mayor of District of 

Columbus, and the first Secretary of its kind in the Republic 

of Panama and I’m sure make an incredible work, 

Veyra Jackman who always participated in a coherent 

and responsible, helping to achieve transformations 

both, Plashka Meade, Samuel Samuels and a large 

nationally and number of leaders young throughout Panama 

internationally,both in the provinces and Islands, 

who worked selflessly and putting the soul, mind and 

heart in each initiative It has been made. 

At the international level, I shared with great leaders 

both in the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia, 

which showed me different realities and the courage 

to trytransform. Among the achievements that I can 

highlight are, help increase visibility of the Indigenous 

and Afrodescendant youth and their situation in international 

spaces, empower youth to understand that were 

the solution to many problems, build living space for 

dialogue and exchange experiences and have somehow 

allowed that important are planned leaders in the 

region, and which I am sure will make a difference, also 

help achieve the incidence of young voices in spaces of 

decision making for both agenda goals and Sustainable 

Development goals, as for that of the International 

Decade of African Descent and most importantly, the 

experience itself that activism allowed meget visit many 

countries on 4 continents, bringing always responsibly 

the message that youth is important, you have rights 

and also has its own voice. I participated with international 

organizations like the OAS and UN agencies such 

as UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women and OHCHR and received 

training in leadership and human rights in different 

countries of America and Europe. 

How do currently see the Afrodescendant movement 

in Panama, as the new generation is 

emerging in all areas and expressions? 

The Afrodescendant movement in Panama has always 

been very strong, more than what activists thereof may 

believe, while compared to other countries, there have 

been significant achievements in legislation and social 

matters. Our story unlike other countries experienced 

very closely the reality of racial tensions in the 

United States, the presence of American bases 

in Panama, the reality lived in the Canal Zone and 

ancestral history that marked some way across 

the population that may not directly lived those 

experiences, so the dynamics and strength of 

the movement in Panama was and always be 

interesting. We have a full of intellectuals and 

thinkers movement some still are present others 

have left this plane, but left a very important to 

continue seed, we also have a bright stream but 

more combative character, in my opinion we are 

all important and fulfill a mission . 

None of the gains that have been achieved has 

been result of the generosity of governments have 

been result of sacrifice and dedication of every 

man and woman of African descent movement in 

Panama, to which we owe the possibility of being 

at this time fulfill our dreams and goals without 

having to worry about issues that we now take for 

granted, but as rights did not exist before. 

And there definitely a younger generation that 

is emerging stronger than ever, for never since 

2828

PERSONALITIES 

the arrival of our ancestors were much freedom and 

opportunities as there are now, in this generation I 

christened as the generation of the harvest, everything 

you can if it proposes, but only through the efforts and 

sacrifice of those who gone before and. The challenge 

facing this generation is living the new reality, but 

knowing their history and their rights, because although 

we are a generation that is free to reap whats own 

and the only thing that can stop us are our aspirations 

and ignorance, we are also responsible for doing so 

thinking of coming back and leave an even more fertile 

ground, which are for them (as) to go further than us, 

as did those who went before. 

Changing a bit the topic, I would like you to share 

about your two facets, we know you’re a lawyer, and 

from the 2016 host connection Caribbean program 

we would like know what led you to take such a radical 

change in your life, and if you’re still practicing as 

a lawyer? 

The truth have always been behind racks and many 

people think that the program is a radical change in 

my life, but more than 10 years worked on radio ago, 

I grew up surrounded by broadcasters and communicators 

as Eddy Vasquez, Irving Harris, because my 

brother Delano Mondell worked with them for years, 

and always allowed me see their work and incidentally 

I mean Delano, was a great inspiration to me, it 

was the first person I saw realizing his dream and 

live your passion and heartfelt thanks sacrifices 

and teachings. 

I also worked several years with Edgardo Franco, 

better known as the General, I did a vital facet in his 

life, as he was leaving the entertainment world and 

returning to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but during 

that transition me taught about ethics work, responsibility, 

and also to exploit the creative side and 

be visionary, which always tried implement in every 

aspect of my life mainly professional. 

Always I shall exercise as a lawyer and use my 

knowledge to those in need, both in matters. public 

and private also keep a portfolio of private clients, 

with whom I have worked for long time and I feel 

quite honored to do so. 

How did Caribbean Connection and what is the 

primary objective of this TV show? 

Caribbean connection, born as a creative initiative 

of visionary people, intending to rescue, promote 

and project properly diverse cultural expressions of 

the Caribbean. Also born thanks to the opportunity 

us provided NexTV through Licda. Marisin Luzcando, 

which has a social and cultural consciousness,

quite high and fell in love with the project from 

the moment she met him. 

Contrary to what many people think, the program 

is about all cultures of the Caribbean, 

including all ethnic groups that compose, 

definitely African culture, marked significantly to 

Caribbean, but were not such rich cultures and 

impressive without sum of all that influenced 

them, such as China, Hindustani, Jewish and 

others. 

The richness of the program is the guidance 

of experts who nurtured with knowledge and 

wisdom, helping to draw the reality of the Caribbean 

in an interesting and entertaining one of 

our great guides for this has been the Magister 

Gerardo Maloney, who is very experienced 

and It challenges us to improve ourselves and 

become better better. It has also been instrumental 

the support of our sponsors, artists who 

support us, special guests and news sources, 

among which involved researchers and specialists 

from the likes of Krishna Camarena, Edward 

Irving, Alberto Barrow, Anthony Mclean,Ricardo 

Richards and many more of which we 

can talk later. 

What I can advance is that if people have liked 

the program so far, is going to be lot more good, 

both Jermaine Lion, like the rest of production 

team are excited by what follows and grateful 

to the Panamanian people for opening the doors 

of their homes and their hearts. 

What is your ideal or dream as African 

descent at national and international 

level for our community? 

My dream as Afrodescendant is to see our 

people in peace and prosperity, anywhere on the 

planet, and this requires positively transform the 

reality that characterizes our communities, make 

use of our culture, intellect, creativity and guile 

that characterizes us , which added to our resilience 

which has allowed us survive despite the 

exclusion and discrimination of the system and 

understand once for all that we are the only ones 

responsible for our reality better and that alone 

will achieve with education, and when I say I do 

not mean education exclusively to academics 

formal, but the training and continuous improvement. 

I would also like to understand the value of 

creative culture, to point that no one would try 

appropriate it, because we already did everything 

to exalt and take. 

30

PERSONALITIES 

What message do you have for all those 

young and not so young, who have 

dreams and have the desire to take? 

We can achieve whatever we think and dream 

once we target, the only true limits we can find in 

our lives to undertake are in our mind, that is the 

tool, most powerful but also the most dangerous 

and why is vital nourish, inform and strengthen 

important and positive things as our history, 

origin, meet and know the wonderful things we 

achieved our ancestors, many without freedom, 

that will help us know what we can achieve with 

all means now they exist and not exist before. 

When we are successful and we are not satisfied 

with the system imposes us whole community 

wins when we give up and we sit and watch 

life go without trying,whole community loses. I 

want conclude with a thought that has become 

commercial, but really born from the trenches of 

movements social is that we (as) are the hero we 

were always waiting. 

31

ETHNICITIES 


For more information, email us at: 



Follow us:

PARENTS LIFE 

HOW DO I HELP MY CHILD STUDY? 

BY: DERISSA SIMMONS 

ACADEMIC DIRECTOR - MADE TRAINING SOLUTIONS 

info@madetrainings.com 

School’s already started. For all those with 

school age children, going back to school 

tends to be hectic. Extensive assignments 

are usually part of the weekend family agenda. 

A Even during the week you will get a call 

or two from home, maybe every day depending 

on the school, telling you what you 

have to run and buy before stores close with 

the reminder that it´s for the following day, 

so hurry! Teachers want all kinds of weird 

things, a pencil you´ve never heard about, or 

a special notebook you didn´t know existed, 

or some very expensive novel. Once you’ve 

found it, after trips to several stores, you 

must now “fly” home. The traffic jam makes 

it a bit difficult but finally you arrive home 

and then it´s time to do homework or study 

until late hours of the night. Sounds familiar? 

We all want our children to study autonomously 

and dream of not having to be their 

“slaves” during the school year but, have 

we spent time teaching them how to study? 

Many factors impact academic success. 

The internal, external, and environmental 

elements as well as the child’s study skills 

are all factors. To study with a method is to 

realistically monitor and program the conditions, 

tasks and activities that guarantee 

efficient and effective learning. 

EXPLORATION 

Quick reading of the text to capture the 

structure and fundamental ideas. 

READING 

Comprehensive Reading. In it they must 

understand each of the words and ideas of 

the text. 

UNDERLINE 

Highlighting key words. It is not recommended 

that they be complete sentences as the 

underlying loses its visual value. 

SCHEME 

Elaboration of the material to be learned. It 

should be brief and allow at a glance, the 

ability to capture the structure of the material 

and the relevant ideas. 

There is a method called ELSER 3 (spanish) 

that helps us teach some techniques to our 

children. 

RESUMIR 

In his own words, the child has to express 

what he/she has read. 

33

REPETITION 

It can be memorized but what really sets 

the information in the long-term memory is 

elaboration. 

ETHNICITIES 

REVIEW 

To avoid forgetfulness, it is essential to go 

through periodic reviews. Two days after 

the first reading they must review, after the 

fourth day again and a week later once more 

until the day of the test. After each review 

the information will be further retained. 

Now that school has resumed you will no 

longer feel overwhelmed if you change the 

strategy and teach your children this method 

for better results. These study techniques 

are a set of logical tools that help to improve 

academic performance and facilitate the 

process of memorization, reflection, analysis, 

critical thinking and learning. This school 

year is bound to be better with a proven 

method tailored to meet your needs which 

I’m sure will help everyone in the home. The 

performance and confidence of your child 

will improve which will also give you a little 

more freedom. Remember, you are no longer 

in school! 


For more information, 

email us at: 



MADE TRAINING SOLUTIONS 

hopes that these tips help you 

all enjoy the 2017 return to 

class. 

Phone: +507-62411167 

Follo us: 

34

PARENTS LIFE 

WHEN SCHOOL BEGINS YOU AUTOMATICALLY 

BECOME BECOME NURSE, DRIVER, TUTOR AND 

COUNSELOR 

BY: ANILÚ CANDANEDO, B.A. 

ANILUCANDANEDO@GMAIL.COM 

35 

Each year, with the beginning of the school, you have to adjust all the dynamics in order to 

cope with the day. You get up earlier to have more time to deal with the traffic and because 

they all leave early and there are now also school buses. Then after the work day you 

come home to review homework and never fail to hear the phrase “Mommy , I need a chart 

paper for tomorrow.” 

The beginning of classes presents challenges, not only for students but for moms and 

dads as well. Preparations begin a couple of weeks earlier. If uniforms, books, supplies, 

shoes, sneakers are taken care of, you still suddenly hear the night before... “I don’t have a 

beeeltt”. 

But let’s go a bit beyond the initial beginning of classes. Now our children and young people 

also have complex agendas and commitments that need to be synchronized with ours 

so that there is good family dynamics where everyone can fulfill what they are passionate 

about. Some will play an instrument, whether in the school’s or outside in the local com-

munity. Others will be in some sports team (soccer, 

baseball, basketball, and now football, or the popular 

“flag football” where there will be practices to attend 

throughout the year. 

Now, how do you organize things so that everyone 

can meet their agendas? Some families, organize 

with others for the infamous “carpool” where a parent 

a week is responsible for transporting several 

children. This makes the transition easier. 

Some have the luxury of having that retired grandmother 

who loves to be active and will pick them up 

and bring them home. Or that retired aunt, young 

woman or family member still in college or on vacation 

or even friends. Others are fortunate to have 

a “super- nanny” who even drives and acts as a 

driver. What a joy! 

And the events? What to say about all the activities 

where children and young people are the main 

artists? Essay presentations, dance routines, costumes, 

cinematography and the “Moooom can you 

bring me cherry frosty pale paper and a pizza? We 

have not eaten anything” 

This is all a wonderful debauchery in which we have 

to support our children at all times so they can 

discover their true passion. In fact all these curricular 

activities lead to building character, gives them 

responsibilities to fulfill, organizing their time and 

most important of all, build friendships. It is here 

where they connect with friends who may be their 

friends for life. 

This story repeats itself every year, until our heirs 

lift their flight to other latitudes, but meanwhile this 

“chaos” lasts, it is important to have a wide support 

system with which all these things can be “solved” 

and when Mom or Dad can not do it all because of 

their work commitments. 

Welcome to a new school year that comes with 

challenges, activities and the most wonderful of 

entanglements. Hopefully with a little organization, 

it will go from being chaos to one of the most enriching 

experiences of each person involved! 

36

HEALTH 

“KEEPING THE HEALTH OF OUR 

CHILDREN’S MOUTH” 

BY: DR. VANIA BARROW 

VaniaBarrow26@hotmail.com 

Hello Ethnicities friends! In this edition we will talk a little about the oral health 

of the little ones of the house, I mean the deciduous or milk teeth as they are 

commonly known. These teeth are important because with their appearance, 

the baby is able to chew solid foods, have a nice smile and speak well. 

37

Tooth care and oral hygiene should start 

from the first months of life. 

Milk teeth are almost completely formed at birth. At 

the beginning, these teeth are submerged in the bone 

and gums and at about 6 months they begin to erupt 

(emerge). Good nutrition and proper oral hygiene are 

the key for your child to have a healthy mouth. 

Just as the children go to the pediatrician for control 

appointments, they must go to the pediatric dentist as 

well. This is the dental specialist who takes care of the 

oral health of the baby up to 16 years. 

Preschool age is the ideal time to implement appropriate 

routines for children to internalize and form 

habits to avoid future problems related to oral health. 

Remember that good oral hygiene during childhood 

along with the habit of visiting the dentist periodically 

will encourage a child to become the adult who keeps 

his teeth for life. 

Tips for Caring for Baby Teeth: 

Although newborns and babies do not have 

teeth, taking good care of their mouth and 

gums is important. 

Use a damp cloth to clean the baby’s gums 

after every meal. 

DO NOT put your baby to bed with a bottle 

of milk, juice, or sweetened water. Use only 

water for bedtime bottles. 

Decayed teeth or fractures can cause: 

Insufficient Nutrition 

Painful and dangerous infections 

Problems with language development 

Low self-esteem 

Begin using a soft toothbrush instead of the 

cloth to clean the child’s teeth as soon as the 

first tooth appears (usually between 5 and 8 

months of age). 

The child’s first visit to the dentist should be 

between the appearance of the first tooth and 

when all of his primary teeth are visible (by 

around 2 and a half years). 

Many dentists recommend a “test” visit. This 

helps the child get used to the clinic’s sights, 

sounds, smells, and sensations before the 

actual first exam. 

38

HEALTH 

Tips to take care for Your Child’s 

Teeth: 

Clean your baby’s teeth every day. When the 

baby’s teeth begin to emerge, clean them by 

gently rubbing them with a clean, damp washcloth. 

When the baby’s teeth are bigger use 

a toothbrush for children. 

Teach your child how to play safe and what 

to do if a tooth is broken or falls. If you act 

quickly, you can often save the tooth. 

When your child has permanent teeth, you 

should start flossing each night before 

going to bed. 

Children under two years old should not use 

toothpaste. Instead use water to brush your 

child’s teeth. 

Do not let the child fall asleep with the bottle 

in his/her mouth. This can leave milk or juice 

on the teeth and cause the formation of cavities 

that is known as “bottle cavities”. 

Children who brush every day and have a 

low consumption of goodies are usually 

more comfortable on visits with the dentist. 

So as you already heard here friends, take 

care of the oral health of our little ones. 

Encourage older children to eat snacks that 

have little sugar, such as fruits, cheese and 

vegetables. Avoid giving your child sweets 

that are sticky and gummy. 

Teach your children how to brush their teeth 

and the importance of keeping their teeth 

clean. 

Take your children to the dentist frequently. 

The American Dental Association recommends 

that children should visit the dentist 

after the age of one. 

When the child reaches teenage age, dental 

correctors or extractions may be needed to 

prevent long-term problems. 

Take the child to the dentist every 6 months 

and let him know if the child sucks his thumb 

or breathes through the mouth. 

Keep in mind that you can 

make dental brushing a fun 

experience by singing and dancing 

while brushing your children’s 

teeth! 

39

HEALTH 

SUGAR: SWEET ENEMY 

BY: VERÓNICA HIDALGO, B.A. 

NUTRITIONIST– DIETIST Reg.345 

MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF PANAMA 

vhidalgo9@yahoo.es 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that both children and 

adults reduce their intake of sugar to less than 10% of the total number of calories 

consumed per day. 

Currently how much sugar is consumed a day by a child 

and an adult? 

40

HEALTH 

What people should know is that there are 

different types of sugars: Simple or free, 

these include monosaccharides and disaccharides 

added by the food industry, cooks 

or consumers to foods such as sucrose, 

refined sugars, sodas, pastry, etc. and the 

intrinsic or natural sugars. 

Types of sugars include: Fructose or fruit 

sugar, Lactose (milk sugar), Maltose (malt 

sugar), Corn syrup rich in fructose (corn 

syrup), Glucose (simple sugar that can be 

transported in the blood), Sucrose (table 

sugar) which is naturally found in beet or 

sugar cane and Sweeteners (industrial preparations). 

Based on this, we can say that 

the vast majority of foods contain sugar and 

the danger lies in the excess consumption 

of simple sugars, in this case those that 

are added to foods such as sucrose (table 

sugar), corn syrup and maltose. There is 

currently no evidence that consumption of 

fructose has adverse health effects (WHO). 

According to statistics from the US Department 

of Agriculture, between 2012 and 2013 

more than 163 million tons of sugar were 

consumed worldwide. 

* Based on the amount estimated, what 

should the appropriate consumption be? 

According to research by the Ministry of 

Health in its documents Recommended 

Daily Feeding, during the 0 to 6 months, 

exclusive breastfeeding is recommended. 

Do not add water with sugars, juices etc. for 

young children. Breast milk includes all the 

nutrients including water the child should 

consume. 

6 to 24 months- It is not necessary to add 

simple sugars to the child’s diet. 

12 to 24 months- Can add 8% of simple 

carbohydrates from the total caloric value, 

which would represent 60 extra calories (3 

teaspoons added sugar). 

In the rest of the age groups- It is recommended 

that the consumption of sugars be 

between 5% - 10% of the total caloric intake 

(WHO). For example if we use a 2000 calorie 

eating plan as a basis, only 6% (120 calories) 

of the 2,000 total daily calories should 

come from plain sugars. 

Foods that should be avoided are refined 

sugar, soda, sugary drinks (cold tea of any 

flavor, powdered packaging and bottled juices) 

in addition to bakery products, confectionery 

and bakery products. It is important 

to learn when reading the nutritional labeling 

of products to check out and know when a 

product has high sugar content. 

41

ETHNICITIES 

Some ways to decrease the sugar 

content in our diet. 

Food Nutrition Education to the consumer. 


Learn to read the sugar content of the nutritional 

label of the products. 

The regulation of the marketing of foods 

and non-alcoholic beverages with a high 

content of free sugars, and the implementation 

of fiscal policies aimed at foods with a 

high content of free sugars. 

An educated population will put knowledge 

into practice by changing the way they 

choose food. 

To receive more information on this topic 

you can write to me at: vhidalgo9@yahoo. 

es or at skype: veronica.hidalgo 

Private office: Larimar htar. Via España 

Edificio Centrum Tower 3rd floor. In front 

Hotel Crown Plaza. 

For more information, 

email us at: 



Phone: +507-62411167 

Follo us: 

42

ARE THERE STILL “NEGREADAS” 

(IGNORED) PANAMANIANS? 

BY: DR. ALBERTO S. BARROW N. 

albertobarrow1@gmail.com 

SOCIETY OPINION ARTICLE 

I do not know now, but until recently, there 

were many in Panama. 

Any hint to the streets and avenues of our 

country brings us, inevitably, to a range of evidence 

that account for ethnocultural multiplicity 

that makes Panama a unique geographical 

space in the Americas. Our ethnic diversity 

continues to impress our locals and strangers, 

especially when attention is focused on the 

plant and grace of Panamanian women, whose 

figure and swagger, very particular, have been 

cause, on many occasions, of marriage rifts in 

the very Avenue. 

However this feature, which is not only aesthetic 

but sociocultural and expresses an 

aspect of been panamanian “panameñidad” 

as is the paradigm of their wives, fades, 

disappearing in some scenarios the country. 

One of them that this “phenomenon” was 

observed in the field of employment, mainly 

in some areas of the private sector. There, 

certain Panamanian ( “Cholas” indigenous, 

mulatto, black, were becoming invisible,better 

it is said, they were invisible, especially 

in some levels of activity in which the performance 

of the work was done inview of 

customers and users . 

A pathetic example in this area was the 

banking center and services, both housed in 

44

SOCIETY OPINION ARTICLE 

50th street and surrounding areas. These were 

two scenarios in which a segment of Panamanian 

society virtually disappeared, as if his real 

existence in the country they were the inventiveness 

of someone or, even more, of a sort of 

collective fantasy. in the heart of the Financial 

Center ethnic polychromy, of which we spoke at 

beginning of these notes, took a countenance 

too “Nordic”,situation that was thinking it was 

another country, different from ours. of course, 

it was against grain of the actual ethnic composition 

of the nation. what there was experienced 

in terms of responsible for customer service 

female staff did not match Panamanian we see 

regularly in our avenues. 

For years, he had argued that a look, even if was 

furtive, the emporiums glass, carpet and marble 

built by hundreds of companies in the Banking 

Center, requires a reflection on the criteria used 

(or used) for those dollars to employ staff, and 

how they throw, as a result, lacks panorama 

of shades, Euro centric, which ignores the rich 

racial multiplicity that distinguishes us from the 

rest of the continent and is one of our strengths 

in both this diversity has produced an accumulation 

historical and cultural constituent of our 

national identity, or what we have been called: 

the Panamanian. 

45 

In the world of finance and concurrent services 

they were glaringly absent some Panamanian; 

those we see every day on the street. There are 

outrageously those blondes; and those that are 

not, at least try to look alike. They are preferred 

managers. Know perfectly that those responsible 

for human resources departments, so seek 

certain results in the selection of personnel 

(because it’s not created, it is matter of chance). 

After a process coated with an apparent objectivity 

of these specialists in managing people, 

an end result that has almost nothing to do 

with what we live every day, in our streets and 

avenues occurs; a new species that had been 

called arises: Ignored “negreadas” Panamanian; 

those that exist in the country, but not in banks, 

insurance companies, subsidiaries, “off shores” 

and all the gear that operates at Federico Boyd, 

Manuel Espinosa Batista, Samuel Lewis, Marbella, 

New Field cheerful and Obarrio. 

The Panamanian “You negreadas” are women 

who, despite possessing academic, technical 

and personal skills to work in the financial center 

and large private utilities, typical of our service economy, 

do not always find space in this area, perhaps 

by what “good presence”; the look,the corporate 

image, or any of the prejudices that abound in the 

psyche of those responsible for the selection of 

personnel employed there.is why you never saw 

in the photographs illustrating the great ads that 

display those companies, concerning their anniversaries 

or advertising promotions, or newsletters 

that report their seminars, to Indian, black or “chola”. 

Occasionally, they appeared Asian descents. These 

photographs and television footage were extremely 

revealing what he considered constituted solidly 

rooted prejudices in our society; they are (were) 

eloquent; “Speak”. 

It is assumed that in this era of leseferism; the regulation 

of the economy and the world work, in short, 

would tell me, almost all socially relevant on the

planet, it can be like swimming upstream proposing that 

rules governing some superstructural aspects of this 

vast imposed world that has been called: the market. I 

am however of those who think that amidst the neoliberal 

euphoria experienced in the world, the state still has 

social responsibilities, and one of them is guaranteed 

to all citizens conditions for access to the material and 

spiritual wealth of society, equal terms. 

In that sense, and this I have pointed out on other 

occasions, there is an urgent need, in our environment, 

to advocate for public policies to ensure real and effective 

participation of all and women in the enjoyment of 

social goods. And if there is a social good that of existential 

nature, that’s the job. 

Consequently, in my view, it would be an excess lead the 

adoption of standards in the field of human resources 

recruitment, so that access to sources of employment 

not present limitations of subjective order to exclude 

from the same to a large number of people in view of 

their somatic characteristics. It is thus avoid or at least 

reduce, the reproduction of the species I have called the 

Panamanian “You Ignored (negreadas)”; an aberrant 

monstrosity of our society that is exquisite expression 

in our financial center and services, and contrary to the 

beauties that both attract attention on the streets of our 

city, and are a living expression of the ethnic diversity of 

our country unfortunately, it is not reflected adequately 

covered in employment in “Calle 50” and now Costa del 

Este, situation we are ethically and morally bound to 

change, because the negrear has never been good. 

46

#VisitPanama 

Location: Metropolitan Park

Stephany Salazar

JUDITH RAPLEY 

Founder & CEO, 

JMR Coaching & Consulting Services, 

Providing you with Life & 

Relationship Coaching 

and Non-Profit & 

Business Strategic Consultation 

Whether you are a: 

• Stay at home mother trying to 

balance your household and 

your sanity 

• a small or new business owner 

taking steps 

• Single professional figuring out 

your purpose or trying to have 

it all, or 

• Corporation or organization truly 

invested in retaining, developing 

and growing your most important 

resource of your human enterprise 

SERVICES INCLUDE: 

Individual personal coaching 

Executive & Career Coaching 

Spiritual/ Faith-based counseling 

Couple/Relationship coaching (Prepare/Enrich facilitator) 

Women's support group 

Women's getaway retreats 

Motivational & Inspirational seminars 

Personal & Professional Development 

Business Assessment & Technical Support 

Strategic Planning & Consultation 

Speaker 

+1-347-510-9131 

judith@judithrapley.com 

www.judithrapley.com

Ethniticities Magazine - March Issue 2017

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?