For centuries we have wanted to avoid the unionism proposed by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. We have been won over by the egocentric nationalism of the isolated and boastful Tico in the cool breeze of his Central Valley. For a lifetime we have contributed to plunge Central America into fragmentation, due to the social and economic gaps created by unequal development. Historians and economists would have to explain what happened with arguments and well-founded interpretations, as I do not pretend to do it without sufficient knowledge or in the casual writing of a personal blog.
However, with humility and in the face of the evidence, as a Costa Rican I must admit that I feel sorry for the historical mistake made and regret that we Costa Ricans have not been more supportive, more visionary and more congruent with the challenges imposed by a world of superior forces. We will not be able to prosper alone, nor do we have a choice, because we must grow and improve ourselves hand in hand with the other Central American countries. They have always known it, we have tried to deny it wrongly. Let us correct it.
From a simple meeting of representatives from all over the world to the Cannes Film Festival in London, I return convinced of the crucial importance of uniting and leaving aside the differences that have separated us. Before writing these lines, I sent a message to the current president of Fecap, the weak Central American federation of advertising agencies, so that together we can raise a heavy flag that can only be carried in the air with the support of Guatemalans, Hondurans, Salvadorans, Nicaraguans, Costa Ricans and Panamanians united. While Argentina, Mexico and Brazil present themselves with their undeniable credentials, we go around the world fragmented, incomplete and with few opportunities.
In Cannes we have no option for a jury for Costa Rica, for example, as long as we do not have enough participations, awards and delegates. A mathematical combination of these factors does not allow us to aspire at least to a jury so that, from the inside, we can learn and defend our proposals, and then share what we have absorbed. However, to our inquiry, the Festival could be willing to do the consolidated arithmetic in favor of Central America as if we were a single country, if we all had representatives and agreed to do so. This is a reality that we must address with speed and diligence.
In my message to Bolívar Márquez, President of the Association in Panama, I have proposed that we officially consult with the associations of each country, so that in Central America they will be the ones to represent Cannes, as has been the case in Sweden and now in Costa Rica. We left Terry Savage, Chairman of the Festival, in London awaiting our recommendations, and for this reason, we will move quickly to try to have one representative per country, and thus, give an inspiring sense and an additional purpose of great attraction to Fecap, whose presidency rotates every period. The associations will therefore have the first option.
Central America is inevitable, facing the world and in our small reality. It is up to us to evolve to be Central Americans born in Costa Rica, Guatemala or Panama. Central America, above all the feelings of generations that have kept us apart, to open new opportunities for us. Central America to face the world, united by a lion, the first and those that follow, aware that this will better protect the identity, prestige and struggle of each country, especially when the harvest is reaped.
Creative Central America, of course, that no judges of any kind would care in Cannes, for without goals, games are not won. The formula is to take steps before running, clear that the direction we take together will determine our destiny.
