its

i

“When Silence Binds” by Piedad Álvarez Maestre.

Published in November, 2008.

Editorial Montemira

This Magazine is based on the analysis of the Novel

”When Silence Binds” for Language II at Sagrado

Corazón TTC, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This magazine was created with the aim of expanding general knowledge related to daily life in Panama. We hope you enjoy the information we share with you through each page of this magazine. You will find some interesting and attractive themes while enjoying “Bonds”.

Thank you for choosing our magazine. We have done it thinking about readers interested in culture. Some of the subjects included are: Immigration to Panama and a review of a wonderful book that you won’t stop reading it until the end.

Bonds

Editors:

Erika Alvarenga, Lucrecia Unzué, Julieta

Santeiro, Yamila Sanchez.

Art Directors

Erika Alvarenga, Lucrecia Unzué, Julieta

Santeiro, Yamila Sanchez.

Pictures

Erika Alvarenga, Lucrecia Unzué, Julieta

Santeiro, Yamila Sanchez.

Marketing Director

Erika Alvarenga, Lucrecia Unzúe, Julieta

Santeiro, Yamila Sanchez.

Design

Erika Alvarenga, Lucrecia Unzúe, Julieta

Santeiro, Yamila Sanchez.

3

4

Content

Immigration to Panama

By Lucrecia Unzué. Pp. 5-6

“When Silence Binds”.

Book review by Erika Alvarenga. Pp. 7-8

“The Story Behind”

By Yamila Sanchez. Pp. 9

“Connection to Real Life”

By Julieta Santeiro. Pp. 10-11

“Literature Circles”

Book Trailer. Pp. 13

Immigration to Panama By Lucrecia Unzué

Federico Padilla’s

grandparents, just like

Elisa’s family,

migrated from

Western Europe, to be

more precise, from

Spain and France

respectively. In this migration, they left their homelands

to settle in a new country across the sea. Why did these

families immigrate to the Isthmus of Panama? What

made them consider Panama a location of great

strategic value?

Ferdinand de Lesseps, a diplomat and

later builder of the Suez Canal, led the

earliest French immigrants to Panama

in 1876. The aim was to set up and to

own the territory of the prospective

Panama Canal, which would let trade

ships to cover a shorter distance

between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

5

Since then, many wealthy French families

disembarked in

Panama, just as

Elisa’s parents did.

Federico Padilla,

Elisa’s future

husband, came

from a working-

class Spanish

family. His

grandfather, involved in the political Panamanian

scene, could make a fortune, during the chaotic

birth of the nation. It was in Panama

where both families could experience a new way of

life, leaving behind the Old World ravaged by war.

There have existed many

different waves of migration,

but the mass emigration

from Europe to Panama,

before and after the Second

World War, was a turning

point. Elisa and Federico’s

families, as most of

immigrants, could benefit from this land not only

through an economic growth, but also through a

social advantage.

Plate VIII from the Panama Canal by Joseph Pennell, 1912

6

“When Silence Binds”

By Piedad Maestre Alvarez

A review by Erika Alvarenga.

anama’s social and political

backgrounds, from last century, are

the principal ingredients of this

passionate and inspiring story. Elisa Cuesta,

the main character in Piedad Maestre Alvarez's

recent book, When Silence Binds, will

introduce the readers to the inward lifestyle of a

wealthy family from Panama. This novel’s plot

goes from the actual Panama and Argentina

scenery to the foundation of the old Panama

during the earliest 20th Century.

Maria Marta, the second main character in the

novel, is a sensitive and open-minded lady,

who will witness what remains of Elisa´s life

and family. who will witness what remains of

Elisa’s past life.

Maria Marta, raised in the Argentinean upper

middle class, will discover during her trip to

P

7

Panama, a new view of how a well-off and

powerful family is conformed nowadays in this

country, especially in Elisa Padilla’s

one. Alejandro Padilla, Maria Marta’s friend

and Elisa’s grandson, and other members of

the Padillas family, will be in charge of letting

Maria Marta know how life works in Panama

City within their social circles. The story line

enhances crucial themes such as infidelity,

corruption, male chauvinism in the high

Panamanian society, and how the political

power determines the course of the country.

From the onset, the book hooks the audience

by the well-description of the cast of its

characters and the settings details of the best

landscapes of Panama. When Silence Binds

will definitely be set on one of the favourite

books to read.

“El Valle de Antón” is one of the most attractive Panama’s landscapes, which will be one of the main settings in the

novel.

The Story Behind

By Yamila Sanchez.

Going through the novel “When Silence Binds” I

could find myself in different countries, cultures

and times. Each character is so delicately

described that makes you feel very close to them.

Although the story in centered in the 21st

century, it is shown that the whole story is built

on the bases of Elisa’s life, which goes by in the

20th century.

Having inherited French delicate features, Elisa

is an example of beauty and elegance. “A woman

can’t be beautiful without suffering” she was

told. Due to her mother’s depression she had

been raised by her nanny, during her childhood,

and by her aunt in her adolescence. The

relationship with her aunt, who was also her

godmother was a strong, full of complicity and

affection. Coming from a rich family in a critical

economic situation Elisa got married

with Federico.

A description of a painting of her describes her

as a delicate and fragile woman who hides a life

of sadness in her eyes. Her story and secrets will

lead and accompany the lives of the first

characters you will meet.

Elisa Cuesta

9

Connection with real life By Julieta Santeiro

There are books or stories that are catching since the very beginning,

and there are others that make us give up reading because we do not like

even the beginning. “When silence binds” is one of those stories that you

will not only like it but also you will feel identified in many situations

and in others you’ll say "yes, it's true. That really happens!"

I felt several connections

with Alejandro, one of the

characters. One of the events that

crossed my mind was my

childhood. When I go to my

grandparent’s house, my mom's

parents, I remember many

situations from my childhood

because I lived there until I was 14. Remembering those beautiful

moments thrills me. 10

Another aspect in which I felt identified was tradition. Similar to

Alejandro’s family, my family used to eat pasta prepared by my

grandmother. Everything my grandmother did was delicious and

spending time with her and

the whole family was

fabulous! Many other

situations related to family

gatherings are very

important to me because I

also lived situations as well

as Alejandro in his

childhood.

Do not wait any longer! You can also

read it and immerse into this beautiful story

and feel emotional appeal and connection to

each part of it. You will find that there is

relation among the book, you and the real

world.

11

Link: When Silence Binds - Trailer

12