Panama and Guatemala propose a binational candidacy for the pilgrimage or romries at the Festivals of the Holy Christ of Esquipulas with all his cultural expressions with a view to entering the Reportable List of Inmaterial Cultural Heritage before UNESCO, which would mean a great motivation for the safeguard of this demonstration.

The signing was held on March 28 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura), where the proponents of this candidacy expressed that this action strengthens the regional integration of Central American cultural heritage and its efforts to safeguard a tradition inherited from its grandparents.

Cultural Minister Giselle González Villarrué mentioned that this is the first binational candidacy we have put forward in Panama, as well as Guatemala, and that's why I reiterate that we are making history through a young ministry that's taking giant steps.

The great festival of the Black Christ of Esquipulas was commemorated on January 15 of every year in Guatemala for centuries as a religious figure with many miracles and faces. That devotion spread to different countries of Central America, South Mexico and the United States.

The Spanish Minister of Culture, Giselle González Villarrué, Sergio Alejandro Hernández García, Chargé d'affaires, a.i. and Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Guatemala, Abel Aronátegui, of the Educational and Cultural Coordination of Central America, CECC- SICA, Gilma Sánchez, vice mayor of the municipality of Anton, and the Spanish dashulists Genaro Ojo (Coordinator of Esquipulists in Canton), Humberto López and Ronaldo Ramea, of Arraijan, Anton and Chame.

The heritage manifestations of this festival were highlighted both in Panama and Guatemala, through songs, poems, narrations, traditional cuisine, crafts, attics of miracles, ornament of altars and moors, production of instruments, as well as mands, romanies or pilgrimages and ritual celebrations with songs, prayers, novenas and serenatas.