History of the Panama Flag: 1903 Design, Separation & National Adoption
Trace Panama’s flag from Manuel E. Amador’s design in 1903 to the first flags sewn by María Ossa de Amador and the symbol’s adoption by the new republic.
How the flag began
Panama’s modern flag was created during the political crisis that led to separation from Colombia in November 1903. Manuel E. Amador T. is credited with the design.
Why red, blue and white?
Red and blue reflected the country’s Liberal and Conservative traditions, while white was given a dominant role as a symbol of peace and coexistence.
The first flags
María Ossa de Amador and Angélica B. de Ossa sewed the first flags in secret on November 2, 1903, immediately before the events that created the new republic.
From 1903 to the national symbol
The four-quarter design with two stars became one of the most recognizable symbols of Panama and was later regulated in detail through national-symbols legislation and official manuals.
Panama flag history FAQ
Who designed the Panama flag?
Manuel E. Amador T.
Who sewed the first flags?
María Ossa de Amador and Angélica B. de Ossa.
When was the flag created?
1903.
Panama Ministry of Government — National Flag
National Symbols Commission — Manuel E. Amador
