The community of San Juan de Turbe at Coclesito, Omar Torrijos Herrera (OTH) in the province of Colón lives its highest folkloric expression from June 24 to June 26 with the celebration of the first White Hat Festival and where the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura) takes place with the participation of more than 30 artisans.

Giselle González Villarrué and Gabriel González, Minister and Deputy Minister of Culture, respectively, were present at the opening of the festival, with local authorities, festival organizers and locals where they shared their gastronomy, dances, and they knew closely about the talent of the artisan, among them outstanding at Margarita González, Queen of the event, who is one of the young artisan of this community in the skills of drawing up his hat.

That garment of elegance was made exclusively in this region of the country using as a raw material fibres that were extracted from the white cane and by municipal agreement will be highlighted every June 25 with the conduct of a folk and artisan festival.

"We continue to work together, strengthening our cultural cooperation agreement and we call on this community to continue to work for its traditions and to continue that legacy that enriches the cultural heritage of the district," said Minister González Villarrué.

Prior to his participation at the festival, cultural authorities visited the OTH Municipality's establishments where children and youth have been taught violin by musician Efraín Vergara and the Center for Audiovisual and Audiovisual Research, where she undertook to support with the production of books so that the library will grow up in literary diversity.

With respect to the production of the white hat, "we have to have a skill to manage the cane leaf as it cuts. We are currently working to preserve this raw material," stated Eduardo Cano, Director of Education and Culture of the Municipality OTH.

"That's a hat we want to promote and that's export quality, because it's a manageable piece and that goes with our climate because it can get wet," Cano added.