In the old days of Panamanian culture, people used to look up to tribal chiefs and Spanish conquistadors and the Arias family. These were the people they loved and every night before they went to sleep, they wished the next morning they might have half their fame or fortune or charm. But in the modern day Panama that role has been replaced by Winnie the Pooh.
Winnie the Pooh represents everything Panamanians love: he hangs out at Disneyland, he speaks English, you can make pinatas to look like him…etc. Panamanians young and old adore Winnie the Pooh almost as much as they adore Irving Saladino.
If you are out and about in Panama, there are two places you can see Winnie the Pooh everywhere: 1) in the form of small stuffed animals dangling from taxi rear view mirrors (beside the car fresheners) and 2) Albrook Mall. Albrook Mall has so many stores that sell things with Winnie illegally printed on them that I’m surprised one of the wings doesn’t have Winnie instead of a lifesized dinosaur. In Panama, Winnie the Pooh is almost as popular as Real Madrid/Barcelona.
Man new creative ideas are running thin…what a pity!
Good things must come to an end…