Santa Fé District
Encyclopedia
Santa Fé District is a district
(distrito) of Veraguas Province
in Panama
. The population according to the 2000 census
was 12,890. The district covers a total area of 1943 km². The capital lies at the city of Santa Fé
.
Santa Fé is known throughout Panamá for its orchids. There is an orchid exposition every August.
The Artisan Market in the Cabecera de Santa Fe makes and sells classic Panamá hat
s that are more durable and cheaper than hats found elsewhere in Panamá. In addition to the hats the artisan market also sells handmade indigenous style dresses for women and girls. These dresses are characterized by bright colors and geometric patterns.
colonisation (and has remained so to this day). In 1557, the Spanish crown authorised the conquest of Veraguas. Captain Francisco Vázquez
founded several towns, including Santa Fé in 1558. The now much bigger town of Santiago
was founded in the mid 17th century by the inhabitants of Santa Fé and Montijo
as a base for further colonisation.
Contemporary history has been marked by sharp class conflict. When the Catholic Church began to step up its operations in the province of Veraguas in the early 60s, Santa Fe was one of the poorest regions in Panama. At the time, there was around %90 illiteracy and widespread hunger, and the region was only connected to Santiago by an unpaved road, which was impossible to travel during much of the rainy season. A report by a group of social scientists and Church leaders claimed that the main problem was the extremely uneven distribution of power. A small group of families controlled most of the resources in the region, and owned the town's only stores. This group could buy produce cheaply from the peasants and sell to them dry goods at exorbitant prices since growers had no way of reaching external markets. This elite lent money as well, further deepening dependency, and its members would serve as town judges, mayors and representatives in national politics.
The situation changed dramatically shortly after a young priest by the name of Jesús Héctor Gallego Herrera was named Santa Fe's first priest in 1967. Gallego, influenced by early texts of Liberation Theology, began working in the fields with the peasants and learning about their situation. He soon organized them into "conversation circles" in which they would read the bible and analyze the peasants' situation in light of the sacred text. A movement soon emerged, that began exploring practical solutions to the poor people's needs. The movement first opened a consumer's cooperative, then it began to sell produce straight in the provincial markets, in effect cutting off the merchant elite.
By 1971, Santa Fe was beginning to change, as the peasants movement was growing by the day, and beginning to look for alliances on the provincial and national level. Panama had been controlled by the National Guard since 1968, and Gallego was well aware of the challenge his movement posed to Omar Torrijos, the country's populist dictator. Since Torrijos was himself vying for support in rural areas, the movement represented a grassroots alternative to the Guard's leadership. Only a decade earlier, Torrijos had personally put down an armed rebellion in the nearby Cerro Tute, and while Gallego was adamantly opposed to any form of violence, the regime may have feared that his movement would radicalize. If this was not enough, Alavaro Vernaza Herrera, Santa Fe's most powerful cuadillo, was a cousin of the dictator—and so the movement's challenge could be seen as a personal one to Torrijos.
After a gradual escalation of tensions between the two camps, and after the regime failed to coopt the movement, Gallego's tinny shack was torched. The priest refused to change course, however, and on June 9, 1971, he was arrested by National Guard agents at night, and "disappeared" thereafter. Expecting this turn of events, Héctor Gallego asked his followers earlier, "if I disappear, do not look for me. Keep fighting." The event marked the regime's first serious crisis as the Church organized massive protests nationwide, but by a combination of disinformation, intimidation, and negotiation, Torrijos managed to maneuver the opposition and further establish his leadership.
Today the political economy of the region is indeed changed. Partly in response to the movement's pressure, a road was paved to Santa Fe, further facilitating the region's integration into the national economy, and more resources were directed to the town. The cooperative has since known ups and downs, but has managed to diversify its economic activity, and now boasts a coffee roasting plant, and various agricultural activities. Its "Fundación Héctor Gallego" has represented peasants' interests, and has been trying to improve their technical skills. Equally important, the region has recently seen a modest tourist flow and an increase in real estate sales, and both have contributed to the rise of a small middle class in the town, further diversifying the local power structure, and perhaps contributing to the its people's well-being.
:
Santa Fé
(capital), Calovébora, El Alto
, El Cuay, El Pantano, Gatuncito, Río Luis
Districts of Panama
The provinces of Panama and some of the comarcas are divided into districts . The district are further divided into corregimientos of Panama-Bocas del Toro Province:* Bocas del Toro District* Changuinola District* Chiriquí Grande District...
(distrito) of Veraguas Province
Veraguas Province
Veraguas is a province of Panama, located in the centre-west of the country. The capital is the city of Santiago de Veraguas. The province covers 10,677.2 km² and is divided into twelve districts.-History:...
in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. The population according to the 2000 census
2000 Panamanian census
The 2000 Panamanian census gathered important demographic and economic data for the Central American country of Panama. It was the tenth national census of population and sixth of housing. It was conducted on May 14, 2000 by the Republic of Panama General Directorate of Statistics and...
was 12,890. The district covers a total area of 1943 km². The capital lies at the city of Santa Fé
Santa Fé, Veraguas
Santa Fé is the name of the capital of the Santa Fé District in the province of Veraguas in Panamá. It has a population of 2800 and lies at an altitude of about 400m, in the centre of an old crater...
.
Santa Fé is known throughout Panamá for its orchids. There is an orchid exposition every August.
The Artisan Market in the Cabecera de Santa Fe makes and sells classic Panamá hat
Panama hat
A Panama hat is a traditional brimmed hat of Ecuadorian origin that is made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant...
s that are more durable and cheaper than hats found elsewhere in Panamá. In addition to the hats the artisan market also sells handmade indigenous style dresses for women and girls. These dresses are characterized by bright colors and geometric patterns.
History
The area to the north of the town Santa Fé was a gold mining region from the beginning of SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colonisation (and has remained so to this day). In 1557, the Spanish crown authorised the conquest of Veraguas. Captain Francisco Vázquez
Francisco Vázquez
Francisco H. Vázquez is a Mexican-American scholar and public intellectual. Vázquez is currently a tenured professor of the history of ideas and director of the Hutchins Institute for Public Policy Studies and Community Action at the nationally-known Hutchins School of Liberal Studies at Sonoma...
founded several towns, including Santa Fé in 1558. The now much bigger town of Santiago
Santiago de Veraguas
Santiago de Veraguas is the capital of the Panamanian province Veraguas. Santiago is located in southern Veraguas near the provincial border with Herrera. The city has approximately 60,059 people according to the Panama 1990 Census. Santiago is one of the oldest settlements in Panama. The...
was founded in the mid 17th century by the inhabitants of Santa Fé and Montijo
Montijo
Montijo is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 348.0 km² and a population of 40,199 inhabitants. The town of Montijo has a population of 25,719....
as a base for further colonisation.
Contemporary history has been marked by sharp class conflict. When the Catholic Church began to step up its operations in the province of Veraguas in the early 60s, Santa Fe was one of the poorest regions in Panama. At the time, there was around %90 illiteracy and widespread hunger, and the region was only connected to Santiago by an unpaved road, which was impossible to travel during much of the rainy season. A report by a group of social scientists and Church leaders claimed that the main problem was the extremely uneven distribution of power. A small group of families controlled most of the resources in the region, and owned the town's only stores. This group could buy produce cheaply from the peasants and sell to them dry goods at exorbitant prices since growers had no way of reaching external markets. This elite lent money as well, further deepening dependency, and its members would serve as town judges, mayors and representatives in national politics.
The situation changed dramatically shortly after a young priest by the name of Jesús Héctor Gallego Herrera was named Santa Fe's first priest in 1967. Gallego, influenced by early texts of Liberation Theology, began working in the fields with the peasants and learning about their situation. He soon organized them into "conversation circles" in which they would read the bible and analyze the peasants' situation in light of the sacred text. A movement soon emerged, that began exploring practical solutions to the poor people's needs. The movement first opened a consumer's cooperative, then it began to sell produce straight in the provincial markets, in effect cutting off the merchant elite.
By 1971, Santa Fe was beginning to change, as the peasants movement was growing by the day, and beginning to look for alliances on the provincial and national level. Panama had been controlled by the National Guard since 1968, and Gallego was well aware of the challenge his movement posed to Omar Torrijos, the country's populist dictator. Since Torrijos was himself vying for support in rural areas, the movement represented a grassroots alternative to the Guard's leadership. Only a decade earlier, Torrijos had personally put down an armed rebellion in the nearby Cerro Tute, and while Gallego was adamantly opposed to any form of violence, the regime may have feared that his movement would radicalize. If this was not enough, Alavaro Vernaza Herrera, Santa Fe's most powerful cuadillo, was a cousin of the dictator—and so the movement's challenge could be seen as a personal one to Torrijos.
After a gradual escalation of tensions between the two camps, and after the regime failed to coopt the movement, Gallego's tinny shack was torched. The priest refused to change course, however, and on June 9, 1971, he was arrested by National Guard agents at night, and "disappeared" thereafter. Expecting this turn of events, Héctor Gallego asked his followers earlier, "if I disappear, do not look for me. Keep fighting." The event marked the regime's first serious crisis as the Church organized massive protests nationwide, but by a combination of disinformation, intimidation, and negotiation, Torrijos managed to maneuver the opposition and further establish his leadership.
Today the political economy of the region is indeed changed. Partly in response to the movement's pressure, a road was paved to Santa Fe, further facilitating the region's integration into the national economy, and more resources were directed to the town. The cooperative has since known ups and downs, but has managed to diversify its economic activity, and now boasts a coffee roasting plant, and various agricultural activities. Its "Fundación Héctor Gallego" has represented peasants' interests, and has been trying to improve their technical skills. Equally important, the region has recently seen a modest tourist flow and an increase in real estate sales, and both have contributed to the rise of a small middle class in the town, further diversifying the local power structure, and perhaps contributing to the its people's well-being.
Administrative divisions
The district is divided administratively into the following corregimientosCorregimientos of Panama
In Panama a corregimiento is a subdivision of a district.See*Coclé Province#Districts...
:
Santa Fé
Santa Fé, Veraguas
Santa Fé is the name of the capital of the Santa Fé District in the province of Veraguas in Panamá. It has a population of 2800 and lies at an altitude of about 400m, in the centre of an old crater...
(capital), Calovébora, El Alto
El Alto
At one time merely a suburb of adjacent La Paz, Bolivia, on the Altiplano highlands, the city of El Alto is today one of Bolivia's largest and fastest-growing urban centers. As of the 2001 census, the population was 649,958. In 2010, the population may be nearly 900,000, or more. The city contains...
, El Cuay, El Pantano, Gatuncito, Río Luis