Coral Gala 2026

On August 12, 2003, during the Celebration of the Panama's Centennial and under the initiative of Victor Grimaldo (Viva Panama Organization's President) and his collaborators, a motion to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors was placed suggesting the Proclamation of the International Week of Panama in Los Angeles, as a commemoration of Panama's Centennial and the Foundation of the Old Panama City on August, 15, 1519, with the presence of Vice-President of Republic of Panama, Dominador Kaiser Basan, Consul of Panama in Los Angeles, Lic. Fernando Daly, Prof. Elisa de Cespedes, Master Designer Horacio Prado, Representative from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and Panamanian Miss Universe 2002, Justine Pasek. On Sunday, August 16, the celebration of the International Week of Panama was held in the city of Los Angeles, at the Vatican Banquet Hall, established by the Viva Panama Organization, founded and directed by Dr. Victor Grimaldo, within the framework of its 35 years of sharing the culture of Panama with Southern California and the world. Every year, during the festivities of the founding of Panama la Vieja, the Viva Panama Organization recognizes outstanding Panamanians who have enhanced and represented their culture in the city of Los Angeles, California, by awarding the Ambassador Award. This year, one of its recognized is the professional and polyglot actor, Antonio Andrés Rosello, who has credits for television and film and who has participated in feature films and television series, both nationally and internationally. Another Panamanian recognized with this cultural award was the architect Jabdiel Zapata, an outstanding professional in the Pasadena area, who has received multiple awards for his commitment to the architectural profession from the American Institute of Architects. Jabdiel is the owner of the architectural firm Prout Architecture in San Gabriel, CA. Ms. Ivett Busby Arango was also recognized for her contribution to the improvement of health care in Southern California for high-quality 24/7 care for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Ivett is the general manager of the company 23fifteen. This event, the Coral Anniversary, is an effort and support of the Viva Panama Organization and the Panamanian community residing in Los Angeles to raise funds to present Panama in the famous Hollywood Christmas Parade; an event televised not only nationally in the United States, but also globally where there are American military bases. This parade will take place in the heart of Hollywood, on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in which the Music Band of the Urracá Institute of Santiago de Veraguas will participate, and for the first time, our queen, María Ruth Saballo Lescure & Queen of Two Oceans, comes directly from Dolega, Chiriquí, to represent us in this parade. The evening was enlivened by the Viva Panama Folkloric Ballet, which has brought the culture of Panama through its music and dances to more than 95 cities in California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Killeen, Texas. The Viva Panama Folkloric Ballet has performed in Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, China, France, Monaco, and Italy. (Please see Program magazine below).