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Some of the  Rondalla de la Fuerza Pública, as the guitar group is called, pose with the replica of the Virgen de los Ángeles.



While some 2 million Costa Ricans were paying tribute to the Virgen de los Ángeles at the Cartago basilica, about 125 of their countrymen in Panamá had a pilgrimage of their own.

The Panama contingent walked about 10 kilometers (about six miles) to the Iglesia de Los Ángeles in Urbanización Los Ángeles of Panamá City. The church has a replica of the tiny stone statue and golden case of the Virgen de los Ángeles, who is the patroness of Costa Rica. The replica was brought to the country in 1970 by a local Costa Rican family.

The Panamá pilgrims were joined at the church by hundreds of other Costa Ricans for religious services, said a report from Panamá. Also there was the guitar group of the Fuerza Pública which played during the Thursday morning Mass.

Trade treaty is divisive issue
both bishop and Arias agree


Both church and state agreed Thursday that the country should unify after the votes come in from the Oct. 7 referendum on the free trade treaty with the United States.

The principal speaker at the Mass for the Virgen de los Ángeles was Ángel San Casimiro, bishop of San Carlos, who made a plea for unity. He was joined by President Óscar Arias Sánchez, who said the treaty issue had divided the country dangerously. The Mass and homily by the bishop was the climax of this year's pilgrimage of devotion to the patroness of Costa Rica, the Virgin Mary in her manifestation as the Virgin of the Angels.

Meanwhile law officers are congratulating themselves on what was a mostly uneventful pigrimage. No one was killed in traffic accidents. No one was seriously injured by robbers. And although there were double the arrests this year over last, the numbers still were small.

Some 21 persons who had been reported missing had been located by the end of the pilgrimage at midday Thursday, said the Fuerza Pública. However, the Cruz Roja reported more than 6,500 persons were treated, a figure more than double of the number given aid in 2006. Some 36 pilgrims had to be hospitalized. The major problems were muscle aches, fatigue, hypertension and respiratory problems, the Cruz Roja said.

The police presence was massive. There were more than 1,400 Fuerza Pública officers in the field. This included regular officers, reserve members and even cadets in training. The traffic police also were out in force.

Bishop San Casimiro spoke for about 35 minutes. In addition to the free trade treaty, he deplored the poverty of some citizens and the wealth of others. He also expressed unhappiness at a survey that said some Catholics were members of the church only for cultural, traditional and family reasons. The survey said that active church members had declined.

The bishop stopped short of taking sides on the referendum question. Church leaders are believed to oppose the free trade treaty personally. Each year the senior active prelate delivers the homily.

The nation's president also has time to say a few words. That is how Arias got on the podium Thursday. He asked the faithful for help in strengtening the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social and the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad. These are two government units that are endangered by the free trade treaty, but the Arias administration is making an effort to pass laws that will make them competitive.

Jazz festival this weekend
as benefit in Tamarindo


The Tamarindo Jazz and Blues Fest is Saturday and Sunday, and organizers hope it can become an annual event. With the backing of several local sponsors, La Laguna del Cocodrilo Restaurant & Lounge is using an estimated budget of $12,000 to both enhance the culture of the Guanacaste beach community and provide a charity event for the local betterment association.

When asked about his motivation for producing the event, Ben Ziegler, one of the owners of the venue, said “I really want to see more culture in Guanacaste, and I thought that by creating an annual event for people to look forward to that it might stimulate people’s interest in jazz all year round.”

Organizers hope the two-day event draws more than 500 people. Some 10 percent of the gate and 10 percent of profits are going to the Asociación Pro Mejoras de Tamarindo, said organizers.

Classic and acoustic jazz artist Bob Drake kicks things off Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by Luis Asconso & the Elcats at 4 p.m. The Fuzzy Rojas Band, featuring Kezirah, will help set the mood for blues at 6 p.m., with The Blues Devils taking the late shift.

Bloody Marys should be in hand by noon on Sunday, when the Aldo Salvent Quintet gets things rolling. Santo Esperanza adds a Latin flair to the festivities at 2 p.m., and things come back home to traditional jazz with Nubiolla and Tupac taking stage at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

With limited seats available, tickets are $40 for one day or $60 for a weekend pass. They can be purchased at the Jaime Peligro Music Shop or the Blue Dolphin Catamarans office, both Tamarindo. There is a San José outlet, too. More information is available at 653-3897.

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By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services