entertainment

Idol win sparks celebration

The country took to the streets to celebrate Latin American Idol icon Margarita Henríquez.

Iván Uribe

margarita mania: Carnavales-style gaiety reigned throughout the country, from the capital to Margarita’s hometown of Las Tablas, where firefighters led a parade through the streets to La Villa.1101601

Panamanians danced and partied in the streets until dawn yesterday, savoring the victory of the homegrown Latin American Idol winner Margarita Henríquez, who had united the country in her quest for the title of amateur pop princess.

Carnavales-style revelry spontaneously erupted in downtown Panama City when the results were announced. As Argentian master of ceremonies Monchi Balestra revealed that Margarita had racked up the most votes, shortly after 10 p.m., people immediately spilled out of the bars and restaurants where they had been watching the show and into the streets.

At the Bar Ancla on Calle 50, the 17-year-old singer’s official headquarters, admirers jumped up and down, shouting “Where are the ticos?,” in reference to Margarita’s Costa Rican rival María José, setting off a spirited traffic jam on the street. Blaring traditional music from their care stereos and honking their horns enthusiastically, traffic quickly came to a standstill in the area.

A similar scene played out on Avenida 12 de Octubre in front of the Medcom television network, on Vía España near Concordia Plaza and on Vía Transístmica, where partiers made merry well into the wee hours of the morning, leaving behind Margarita flags and banners strewn among the usual litter.

In the interior of the country, the celebrations were even grander and more ebullient, particularly in the Azuero peninsula of Los Santos, Margarita’s hometown and the traditional hotspot for the Carnavales season in February.

A brightly-colored float circulated in the main streets of La Villa, followed by a huge caravan headed up by decorated fire trucks from the regional Cuerpo de Bomberos.

“This is a true carnival. La Villa de Los Santos now has two heroines, Rufina Alfaro and Margarita Henríquez now,” said several excited locals, alluding to this year’s Carnaveles queen.

Margarita’s much-anticipated return from Argentina is tentatively scheduled for Monday, according to the singer’s father, Juancín Henríquez, who said that he must confirm the date with Latin American Idol producers.

"It has been said that Margaret comes on Monday, but thatwill be decided today. Already several companies and television reception and have organized caravans, but they’ll have to wait for the answer, "he added.

Whenever she does return, however, Margarita will be received in a fashion similar to Olympic gold medallist Irving Saladino’s homecoming from Beijing. President Martín Torrijos has offered the Henríquez family use of the presidential plane, and then the Idol winner will be driven from Tocumen to the Transístmica along Vía España.

Midway through the tour, the singer will give a press conference for the media in the country. On Wednesday, Margarita will participate in another caravan that will depart from the headquarters of Medcom, from 12 de octubre to La Villa, in Los Santos.