The Ministry of Culture, through the National Directorate of Cultural Rights and Citizenship and the National Bank of Panama, gave 125 copies of the literary work "Conversations with the Life of José Franco: The poet and man" to its author Jorge Ivan Mora, this as part of the academic activities of the Bicentennial of the Independence of Panama of Spain.

Jorge Ivan Mora, journalist and writer, noted that "this work rescates the figure of the poet on a fascinating journey for his life, from his childhood, his golden days and his retirement in the town of Las Tablas. It's a way to see man from human and poet from his historic and cultural dimension."

Each chapter reveals the process that led José Franco to be a great writer, as the book includes arguments from those throughout his lifetime who had an opportunity to share with him and to see and analyse his work, the writer added.

The Minister of Culture, Giselle González Villarrué, emphasized that his title "life and memory, time and special moments in the poet's life can serve as an ethical and civic reference, as a compass to recognize the intrinsic values of his homeland."

For his part, Aura Ferrer, Executive Manager of Social Responsibility at the National Bank of Panama emphasized the complacency and pride to be "part of this effort, to give these copies, to be distributed and to have more people enjoy the poems of this great author."

About Jorge Ivan Mora, an independent journalist who has been a contributor to recognized journals, was founder, editor and director of important newspapers in New York and has been co-operative for several years as columnists of newspapers, La Prensa de Panama and La tiempo de Colombia.

• 

• 

•