{"id":15752,"date":"2026-08-20T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=15752"},"modified":"2026-08-20T10:27:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:27:29","slug":"panama-language-academy-honors-president-at-100-year-gala-delightfully","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/events-culture\/panama-language-academy-honors-president-at-100-year-gala-delightfully\/","title":{"rendered":"Panama Language Academy Honors President at 100 Year Gala Delightfully"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marking a century of promoting Spanish language and letters, the Panama language academy inducted President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino as an honorary academician during a formal ceremony that drew cultural leaders, diplomats, and literary figures from across the Americas. The recognition places Mulino among distinguished figures committed to defending and enriching the Spanish language in an era of rapid transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3940.8996771076368!2d-79.52472832430901!3d8.981378689731214!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8faca8e468d78d11%3A0x657d937a76daa892!2sPanamanian%20Academy%20of%20Language!5e0!3m2!1sen!2spa!4v1787238978814!5m2!1sen!2spa\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Panama Language Academy Marks a Milestone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ceremony unfolded as the academy celebrates 100 years since its founding in 1926, a distinction that makes it the first institution of its kind in Latin America. First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino accompanied the president at the gathering, which also counted Minister of Culture Mar\u00eda Eugenia Herrera among its attendees. Delegates from language academies in Bolivia and Cuba traveled to Panama for the occasion, along with prominent figures from the country&#8217;s intellectual and academic circles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jorge Eduardo Ritter, director of the Panama language academy, reflected on the institution&#8217;s historical legacy and reaffirmed its continuing mission. Ritter described the academy as a cornerstone of cultural preservation that has shaped literary expression and linguistic standards across the region for generations. Under his leadership, the institution has maintained close ties with the Association of Spanish Language Academies, a network of 23 academies that coordinates language policy across the Spanish-speaking world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The director also confirmed a significant development that places Panama back at the center of the Spanish-speaking world&#8217;s major gatherings. Panama previously hosted the International Congress of the Spanish Language in 2013, and its selection for the 2028 edition signals continued confidence in the country&#8217;s capacity to convene global cultural events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/panama-language-academy-apl-by-academia-panamena-de-la-lengua-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Panama Language Academy APL by Academia Panamena de la Lengua\" class=\"wp-image-15753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/panama-language-academy-apl-by-academia-panamena-de-la-lengua-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/panama-language-academy-apl-by-academia-panamena-de-la-lengua-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/panama-language-academy-apl-by-academia-panamena-de-la-lengua-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/panama-language-academy-apl-by-academia-panamena-de-la-lengua-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/panama-language-academy-apl-by-academia-panamena-de-la-lengua-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/panama-language-academy-apl-by-academia-panamena-de-la-lengua-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Panama Language Academy APL by Academia Panamena de la Lengua<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Literary Heritage and National Identity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During his remarks, President Mulino traced the academy&#8217;s roots through the contributions of notable Panamanian literary figures who have shaped the nation&#8217;s cultural landscape. He named Belisario Porras, Octavio M\u00e9ndez Pereira, Ricardo Mir\u00f3, Amelia Denis de Icaza, and Rogelio Sin\u00e1n among the visionaries whose work connected Panama&#8217;s literary tradition to broader currents in <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/panama-hosts-2028-international-spanish-language-congress-causing-tension-in-spain\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/panama-hosts-2028-international-spanish-language-congress-causing-tension-in-spain\/\">Spanish-language expression<\/a>. These figures helped establish the foundation upon which the academy built its century of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president spoke about language as something more than a communication tool. He framed it as the backbone of national identity and the mechanism through which societies define their shared values and aspirations. Language, Mulino argued, sets the boundaries of social understanding and enables communities to build collective projects. This philosophical framing gave weight to the evening&#8217;s celebration and connected the academy&#8217;s historical mission to contemporary challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DcPxrB1Dnv3\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DcPxrB1Dnv3\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DcPxrB1Dnv3\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by @miculturapma<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digital Age Pressures on Spanish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mulino did not limit his speech to celebration alone. He issued a pointed warning about the pressures that rapid technological change places on the Spanish language. The rise of <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/panama-takes-on-digital-scammers-at-international-summit\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/panama-takes-on-digital-scammers-at-international-summit\/\">digital platforms<\/a> and artificial intelligence has introduced new patterns of expression that threaten traditional linguistic structures. Mulino described these forces in stark terms, warning of an invasion of slang, foreign terms, and shortened expressions that erode meaningful dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;Today language faces challenges and threats where certain technological advances seem determined to cast shadows over our tongue with an invasion of slang, terms, and expressions that appear as mutilators of dialogue&#8217; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To confront these challenges, the president highlighted the LEIA project, known in full as Lengua Espa\u00f1ola e Inteligencia Artificial. This initiative focuses on understanding and addressing how artificial intelligence impacts the Spanish language. By promoting research and developing tools that support proper usage, LEIA represents a proactive response to the digital transformation that affects how people communicate across Spanish-speaking nations. The project aligns with broader efforts by language academies worldwide to maintain linguistic standards while adapting to technological realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/president-mulino-holding-speech-at-100-year-gala-credit-micultura-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"President Mulino holding Speech at 100 Year Gala Credit MiCultura\" class=\"wp-image-15755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/president-mulino-holding-speech-at-100-year-gala-credit-micultura-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/president-mulino-holding-speech-at-100-year-gala-credit-micultura-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/president-mulino-holding-speech-at-100-year-gala-credit-micultura-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/president-mulino-holding-speech-at-100-year-gala-credit-micultura-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/president-mulino-holding-speech-at-100-year-gala-credit-micultura-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/president-mulino-holding-speech-at-100-year-gala-credit-micultura-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Mulino holding Speech at 100 Year Gala Credit MiCultura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Panama Prepares for Global Language Congress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The centennial celebration carried forward-looking significance as well. Ritter confirmed that Panama will host the XI International Congress of the Spanish Language in 2028, a decision that positions the country as a hub for linguistic and cultural exchange in the Spanish-speaking world. The congress brings together scholars, writers, publishers, and language professionals from across the globe, making it a key important gatherings for the promotion of Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hosting the congress builds on Panama&#8217;s historical role as a crossroads of cultures and its modern ambition to lead regional conversations about language, technology, and identity. For the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Academia_Paname%C3%B1a_de_la_Lengua\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panama language academy<\/a>, the 2028 congress represents an opportunity to showcase the institution&#8217;s century of achievements while shaping the future direction of Spanish language preservation and innovation. The gathering will likely address the same technological challenges Mulino highlighted, creating continuity between the centennial reflection and future action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In summary, the induction of President Mulino as an honorary academician serves as both a recognition of his support for cultural institutions and a signal of the academy&#8217;s determination to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. As the institution enters its second century, it does so with a clear mandate to protect linguistic heritage while embracing the tools needed to keep Spanish vibrant and resilient for future generations. The road to 2028 offers Panama a unique window to demonstrate leadership in this vital cultural endeavor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Marking a century of promoting Spanish language and letters, the Panama language academy inducted President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino as an honorary academician during a formal ceremony that drew cultural leaders, diplomats, and literary figures from across the Americas. The recognition places Mulino among distinguished figures committed to defending and enriching the Spanish language in an<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15754,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[6280,6279,6281,5652,1001],"class_list":["post-15752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-events-culture","tag-academy-president","tag-language-spanish","tag-panama-language","tag-panama-mulino","tag-spanish-language"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15752"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15756,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15752\/revisions\/15756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}