Panamanian Writer's Day

It has become a tradition to celebrate Panamanian Writer's Day on April 25 throughout the country. It is a special date to pay tribute to the cultural activities of writers, men and women from all over Panama.

The Panamanian Writer's Day is celebrated every April 25 because this day is the anniversary of the birth of Rogelio Sinán in Taboga Island; a great teacher and writer of Panamanian literature.

Therefore, as a tribute to his memory and "in order to promote a greater approach to his commitment to literature and Panama, as well as to stimulate literary creation at the highest level of excellence throughout the Central American area", the Technological University of Panama created in 1996 an annual and permanent contest whose name is the Rogelio Sinán Central American Literature Award, held for the first time in 1997.

Rogelio Sinán, originally named Bernardo Domínguez Alba, was an avant-garde writer who studied in Europe and was involved with Dadaism, surrealism and other "isms" that influenced his work. His best known work is La Isla Mágica, which refers to the island of flowers where he was born.

He taught Spanish at the Nido de las Águilas and drama at the University of Panama. He was also a diplomat in several countries and belonged to the Panamanian Academy of Language. He died in 1994.