María Ossa de Amador and the First Panama Flags
Discover the story of María Ossa de Amador, Angélica B. de Ossa and the first Panama flags sewn in secret in November 1903.
Who was María Ossa de Amador?
María Ossa de Amador was closely connected to the events surrounding Panama’s separation from Colombia and is remembered for helping create the first physical examples of the new national flag.
How were the first flags made?
Official Panamanian accounts state that María Ossa de Amador and her sister-in-law Angélica B. de Ossa sewed the first flags in secret on the night of November 2, 1903.
Why secrecy mattered
The work took place before the political break with Colombia was publicly secure, so producing the flags was tied directly to the risks of the independence movement.
How large were the first flags?
National-symbols records state that the first two flags measured roughly 2.25 by 1.50 meters, corresponding to the 2:3 proportion used today.
FAQ
Who sewed the first Panama flags?
María Ossa de Amador and Angélica B. de Ossa.
When were they made?
On the night of November 2, 1903.
National Symbols Commission — María Ossa de Amador
