Vip Panama http://vippanama.com Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:38:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 en “Why Do the Infrastructure Issues Concern Developers on the Pacific Coastline?” http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwhy-do-the-infrastructure-issues-concern-developers-on-the-pacific-coastline%e2%80%9d http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwhy-do-the-infrastructure-issues-concern-developers-on-the-pacific-coastline%e2%80%9d#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:38:18 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwhy-do-the-infrastructure-issues-concern-developers-on-the-pacific-coastline%e2%80%9d “The greater the anxiety humans feel, ironically, the more impaired is their brain’s cognitive efficiency.  In this zone of mental misery, the physical space to take in new information literally shrinks; and as life preoccupies us by anxiety or anger, our mental agility literally sputters to a squeaky halt.”

“Frazzle is word defined as a neural state in which emotional upsurges hamper the workings of the brain center.”  Allegedly, while frazzled we cannot concentrate or think clearly. And the premise is that the effects on thinking and performance caused by being mildly upset – frazzled – are initiated by the hassles of everyday life. For your amusement, check out the Science Magazine issue 280 (1998) pp. 1711-1713. Ann Arnsten’s article “The Biology of Being Frazzled” was groundbreaking ten years ago.

Hmm…so if we reduce the amount of frazzle experienced during the day, does that improve the quality of life?  It seems to be true. Arnsten says, “The biology of anxiety tosses people out of the sweet zone of brain performance, the basic neurobiology of frazzle causes people to go into the body’s default emergency plan for crisis”.  Remove the negative stimuli and thereby remove the frazzle effect.

Here’s where ‘experiencing a life of good quality’ plays the rubber and ‘changes in Panama City’ play the road…read on to understand the sources of becoming frazzled in Panama City, and what you as part of a group of developers in Panama might be able to do good - here and now.

]]> http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwhy-do-the-infrastructure-issues-concern-developers-on-the-pacific-coastline%e2%80%9d/feed “Why Worry About Anyone Else’s…Quality of Life?” http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwhy-worry-about-anyone-else%e2%80%99s%e2%80%a6quality-of-life%e2%80%9d http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwhy-worry-about-anyone-else%e2%80%99s%e2%80%a6quality-of-life%e2%80%9d#comments Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:37:48 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwhy-worry-about-anyone-else%e2%80%99s%e2%80%a6quality-of-life%e2%80%9d Ok…now we’re going to talk about what defines quality of life in Panama City, Panama. You know, it’s one of those topics well-educated people keep trying to tell the rest of us about, like sun spots, global warming…and human interaction engineering.  Hmmm, I may have to re-educate myself to ride on this train of thought.  Want to come along…?

My quality of life today is based on how well I’m living my life - today - in the company of the humans I have interactions with.  Whomever I spend time with affects my state of mind…my personal infrastructure. If I’m around people who are happy and healthy, I will feel more happy and healthy because of interacting with them. So it is to my advantage to improve the state of mind of the people I interact with… if I want to be good.

A city is socially defined by the combination of services, supplies and amenities it offers.  Yet even more important is the mode in which the people deliver the services. Is the person at the cash register happy or miserable?  Is the taxi driver a bundle of nerves or relaxed and at ease? Those experiences we share with others make up our social infrastructure.  All of us who share this intersection of latitude and longitude share the stresses of our environment, here and now.  Not because it’s our choice…but because there is no other choice, no matter what income disparities may exist.

Progress in improving the quality of life in Panama City is learning how to make things better and doing it…because it’s a good thing to do.  In Panama City, there is room to do some good.

]]> http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwhy-worry-about-anyone-else%e2%80%99s%e2%80%a6quality-of-life%e2%80%9d/feed “ …Likely Strains on Infrastructure…?” http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9c-%e2%80%a6likely-strains-on-infrastructure%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9c-%e2%80%a6likely-strains-on-infrastructure%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:37:24 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9c-%e2%80%a6likely-strains-on-infrastructure%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d According to a well-written opinion in Oct. 2007 edition of ‘The Economist’:

“Panama’s real-estate market is in the midst of an unprecedented explosion. A combination of easy credit, foreign demographic trends and, most importantly, quite a bit of speculative momentum appears to be behind the surge in investments in the luxury residential market. The intense level of enthusiasm is raising questions about the sustainability of demand, the likely strain on infrastructure, and the potential risks to some investors and end users should the market suddenly burst.”

What I find interesting is the relatively small number of fixes it would take to make your project in Panama City, Panama the tropical home in paradise your eventual residential investors are dreaming about.  If the luxury demand is supported and sustained by Panamanians providing world class services, everyone wins.

Surely there is a way to help prep Panama City, Panama to be the new leader in Central America, in updating infrastructure and learning what it takes to become world class in delivering services and supplies.  If in helping to lead more peaceful management of its infrastructure’s unprecedented growth; as a sidebar, it makes Panama a happier and healthier place to live –wouldn’t that be an added benefit? Let’s talk about it, and how doing it…is being good.

]]> http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9c-%e2%80%a6likely-strains-on-infrastructure%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d/feed “Infrastructure…and What Does it Have to do with Building a High Rise?” http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cinfrastructure%e2%80%a6and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-building-a-high-rise%e2%80%9d http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cinfrastructure%e2%80%a6and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-building-a-high-rise%e2%80%9d#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:37:00 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cinfrastructure%e2%80%a6and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-building-a-high-rise%e2%80%9d The term infrastructure - came to prominence in the U.S., following publication of America in Ruins, which initiated a public-policy discussion of the America’s ‘infrastructure’ crisis, purported to be caused by decades of inadequate investment and poor maintenance of public works.

Public works infrastructure refers to:  urban highways, streets, roads, and bridges; mass transit; airports and airways; water supply and resources; wastewater management; solid-waste treatment and disposal; electric power generation and transmission; telecommunications; and hazardous waste management – according to Wikipedia.

Public works policy discussions are in order in Panama. There are significant issues with the infrastructure in Panama City.  It is not fun to live with these issues in this city.

Before all the new residents move into the new buildings and then have to wait six months for phone service, developers can make a new plan with the utility companies now.   Mass transportation alternatives can be considered and revenue can be earmarked for solutions to stop gridlock of all the streets and honking of all the horns. Initiate noise abatement planning now and by the time your buyers settle into their new homes, maybe the new residents of Panama City won’t have to wear earplugs every night to be able to sleep well in this high decibel town.

Would Panama City just look good then, or would it really be good?  Can you help with the foresight, the relationship management and the operating of the levers of power so that these issues are given the attention they need NOW…?

]]> http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cinfrastructure%e2%80%a6and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-building-a-high-rise%e2%80%9d/feed “Too Much Growth Too Fast?” http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9ctoo-much-growth-too-fast%e2%80%9d http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9ctoo-much-growth-too-fast%e2%80%9d#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:36:34 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9ctoo-much-growth-too-fast%e2%80%9d A study by Prima Panama identified some 107 building projects under construction in 15 neighborhoods in Panama City as of July, 2007 with a total of 10,980 apartments. The total value of these projects is estimated at US $3.17 billion. These projects will be completed and come to market into 2010. Furthermore, since the Prima study was completed 25 more projects have been announced.

Even if all of the projects don’t come to fruition, this constitutes an enormous increase in population in Panama City very quickly. Calculating with the units selling well, will equal roughly 40,000 new residents in Panama City within the next five years or so, based on current predictions.

Although the city’s infrastructure is administrating services for the current population with limited success, the serious issue is that the Panama City’s infrastructure simply isn’t going to be able to manage all the projected additional residents, when the current populace is straining the systems beyond their abilities.  What are you planning to do to help prepare the Panama City infrastructure for your investors? Mmm…is that silence I hear?  But on paper the projections look so good…

]]> http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9ctoo-much-growth-too-fast%e2%80%9d/feed “Are Idling Luxury Autos…Part of The Ocean Club Plan?” http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9care-idling-luxury-autos%e2%80%a6part-of-the-ocean-club-plan%e2%80%9d http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9care-idling-luxury-autos%e2%80%a6part-of-the-ocean-club-plan%e2%80%9d#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:36:09 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9care-idling-luxury-autos%e2%80%a6part-of-the-ocean-club-plan%e2%80%9d Have you noticed the street that your investment property is being built on at the Punta Pacifica shoreline in Panama City?  It’s a dead end street lined on both sides with huge multi-story residential properties…most of them under construction now.  Tremendous investments in Panama City’s Pacific Oceanfront real estate are represented on that street.  They look good.

Please put on your virtual reality helmet and take a look at the future of that little street…in oh, let’s say - five years. In that moment of vision into the future: it is a two lane blacktop road, lined with lots of very valuable automobiles all sitting in rows, one going each direction with their motors running, unable to move more than about five inches at a time, as all the elegantly dressed people in the back seats seethe.   Did you happen to think about ease of access to your multi million dollar property, when you noted that street being represented as a dead end on the initial site plans?  Or did you just think it looked good?

Hmm…what else was excluded from your overview?  Did your considerations include utility set up for your investors?  How about deals to keep the investor residents from standing in lines at the immigration office for a couple of hours a month to keep their visa viable?    Do you plan to make introductions to Panamanian bankers, who aren’t willing to talk with just anyone; or reliable attorneys to help them to get settled in Panama legally, tax accountants that know how to answer their foreign resident questions?  Is your plan good or does it just look good?

]]> http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9care-idling-luxury-autos%e2%80%a6part-of-the-ocean-club-plan%e2%80%9d/feed “Will the Panamanian workers on the Trump Ocean Club be fairly treated?” http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwill-the-panamanian-workers-on-the-trump-ocean-club-be-fairly-treated%e2%80%9d http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwill-the-panamanian-workers-on-the-trump-ocean-club-be-fairly-treated%e2%80%9d#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:35:46 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwill-the-panamanian-workers-on-the-trump-ocean-club-be-fairly-treated%e2%80%9d What about the Panamanian workers who will be building your Flying Sail, Mr. Trump?  Will you be acting in agreement with current Latin American policy in which there would be no humane response to a worker falling to his death, off a building in progress? Under the current national agreements, your builder and developer team would owe his family nothing.  Last year 27 construction workers died on the job…and their families lost not just the breadwinner of the family…they lost almost everything.

One who is only concerned about looking good would say…not my problem. Someone who’s interested in being good, will consider the issue from all sides and work on creating as an alternative, a workable compromise between the workers and the building management team; that treats them fairly, compensates them fairly, and insures them enough to support their family for at least a year…in the event of their death or severe injury. (By the statutes of your homeland, these are very conservative considerations.)

And that concept would give the workers the option of an employer not associated with hostile unions.  Yeah, a lot of the innocent workers have been sucked into trade unions, but what they want is security for their families…can you and your building team, offer them that?  Let’s talk about compromise being a good thing.

]]> http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9cwill-the-panamanian-workers-on-the-trump-ocean-club-be-fairly-treated%e2%80%9d/feed “How Responsible can Builders and Developers Be in Panama City, Panama?” http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9chow-responsible-can-builders-and-developers-be-in-panama-city-panama%e2%80%9d http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9chow-responsible-can-builders-and-developers-be-in-panama-city-panama%e2%80%9d#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:35:20 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9chow-responsible-can-builders-and-developers-be-in-panama-city-panama%e2%80%9d Here’s the challenge, Mr. Trump.  Are you in the game to look good…or to be good?

Are you aware of what’s truly happening in the city that’s located about 9 degrees north of the equator and 80 degrees west of the prime meridian? The remarkable city where you’re building a theoretically profitable ‘Flying Sail’ on the edge of the Pacific Ocean?  Are you willing to take on the responsibility that’s needed to make your project in Panama a true success…even if it’s not in your projections?

In considering your profit projections planned for the 2.6 million square feet being built at the edge of Panama Bay; is it relevant for you to think about the quality of life - of your investors? Not the profiteers, the people who actually want to live and/or work in your flying sail. Do you have some limited real responsibility for the human quality of life outside of the building you’re creating, as well as inside it?  How about the quality of life of the people who are building your $260 million condo-hotel and mixed-use development building?

Let’s talk …about the comparisons between looking good and being good…

]]> http://vippanama.com/%e2%80%9chow-responsible-can-builders-and-developers-be-in-panama-city-panama%e2%80%9d/feed Pequeño Paraiso Panama Bed and Breakfast- Panama City, Panama http://vippanama.com/pequeno-paraiso-panama-bed-and-breakfast-panama-city-panama http://vippanama.com/pequeno-paraiso-panama-bed-and-breakfast-panama-city-panama#comments Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:34:53 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/pequeno-paraiso-panama-bed-and-breakfast-panama-city-panama Pequeño Paraiso Panama Bed and Breakfast

Call (507) 6691 6254 or e-mail to:  info@pequenoparaiso.net

This bed and breakfast is a Spanish style villa decorated with old world charm, located in a quiet, safe neighborhood in a very picturesque suburb of Panama City.  This bed and breakfast is only 23 Kilometers (13.8 Miles) from Tocumen (PTY) International airport and 14 km (8 miles) from downtown Panama City.

Pequeno Paraiso offers 2 guest rooms with private baths, swimming pool, sun terrace, out-door Jacuzzi, flat screen TV in a common area, complimentary high-speed wireless Internet in an air conditioned home, and serves gourmet breakfast on the terrace from 7am – 10am.

Your hosts are fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and French and offer unlimited free calls to Canada, the US and most of Europe, during your visit.   Pequeño Paraiso is a smoke free environment and unfortunately, cannot accommodate children under 12.   The price per room is $75.00 US (taxes and full breakfast included) for two people…and longer term rates are available.

http://www.pequenoparaiso.net/
Pequeño Paraiso Panama Bed and Breakfast

Call (507) 6691 6254 or e-mail to:  info@pequenoparaiso.net

This bed and breakfast is a Spanish style villa decorated with old world charm, located in a quiet, safe neighborhood in a very picturesque suburb of Panama City.  This bed and breakfast is only 23 Kilometers (13.8 Miles) from Tocumen (PTY) International airport and 14 km (8 miles) from downtown Panama City.

Pequeno Paraiso offers 2 guest rooms with private baths, swimming pool, sun terrace, out-door Jacuzzi, flat screen TV in a common area, complimentary high-speed wireless Internet in an air conditioned home, and serves gourmet breakfast on the terrace from 7am – 10am.

Your hosts are fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and French and offer unlimited free calls to Canada, the US and most of Europe, during your visit.   Pequeño Paraiso is a smoke free environment and unfortunately, cannot accommodate children under 12.   The price per room is $75.00 US (taxes and full breakfast included) for two people…and longer term rates are available.

http://www.pequenoparaiso.net/
Pequeño Paraiso Panama Bed and Breakfast

Call (507) 6691 6254 or e-mail to:  info@pequenoparaiso.net

This bed and breakfast is a Spanish style villa decorated with old world charm, located in a quiet, safe neighborhood in a very picturesque suburb of Panama City.  This bed and breakfast is only 23 Kilometers (13.8 Miles) from Tocumen (PTY) International airport and 14 km (8 miles) from downtown Panama City.

Pequeno Paraiso offers 2 guest rooms with private baths, swimming pool, sun terrace, out-door Jacuzzi, flat screen TV in a common area, complimentary high-speed wireless Internet in an air conditioned home, and serves gourmet breakfast on the terrace from 7am – 10am.

Your hosts are fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and French and offer unlimited free calls to Canada, the US and most of Europe, during your visit.   Pequeño Paraiso is a smoke free environment and unfortunately, cannot accommodate children under 12.   The price per room is $75.00 US (taxes and full breakfast included) for two people…and longer term rates are available.

]]> http://vippanama.com/pequeno-paraiso-panama-bed-and-breakfast-panama-city-panama/feed La Casa de Carmen Bed & Breakfast- Panama City, Panama http://vippanama.com/la-casa-de-carmen-bed-breakfast-panama-city-panama http://vippanama.com/la-casa-de-carmen-bed-breakfast-panama-city-panama#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:34:22 +0000 admin http://vippanama.com/la-casa-de-carmen-bed-breakfast-panama-city-panama La Casa de Carmen Bed & Breakfast                                                                                                                      20 minutes from Tocumen International Airport, exiting the highway into Brazil Avenue,            just a block behind Via España Avenue                                                                                                                   Tel: (507) 263-4366                                                                           http://www.lacasadecarmen.net   lacasadecarmen@cableonda.net

Through a unique fusion of color and art coupled with a relaxed friendly hospitality, La Casa de Carmen Bed & Breakfast offers a special atmosphere akin to a Panamanian family home, affording guests a unique opportunity to experience the local way of life during their stay.

The B&B offers single, double and triple bedrooms all delightfully decorated in rainbow bright colors, with or without private bathrooms. We also have a one bedroom apartment, specially adapted for longer stays and a dormitory style room for budget travelers.  However there are no posted rates available, to allow the innkeeper to be seasonally responsive… (But do remember to add the 10% tourist tax to all rates you are quoted).

You are invited to relax in Las Casa de Carmen’s colorful veranda, where the sounds of birds singing in harmony with nature will transport you to a place far more tranquil than the city. Free continental breakfast and international reading area, free Internet access, TV, self-service kitchen and laundry room, hot water, air conditioned bedrooms, and a private safe box are all amenities you’ll welcome at Las Casa de Carmen.

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