Señora Dalila was born in Pedasi in 1931, growing up in a family of three brothers and three sisters. Back in her day, there were no roads so she traveled by horse to Las Tablas, where she would catch a ride to go to the city where she attended Panama High School. After three years, she moved to Kingston, Jamaica where she went to BrianCliff - a secondary school run by nuns. She had a cousin living in Iowa, so her father decided to send her there. Thus, she moved again and finally, when she was around 17 years old, she finished her secondary school.

Then she moved back to her hometown, Pedasi, Panama. She stayed many years at home with her parents. Her father didn’t want her to work. As Señora Dalila will tell you, from the house to church - that was the deal!?

In 1961, she married Walter Quintero, also from Pedasi. Her father was not too happy about it as she was his first daughter moving out. Her husband worked in the city and, later on, Señora Dalila also found a job. She worked as a secretary for a company named F.A.O, which was a project of the United Nations.

In 1997 Señora Dalila and her husband moved back to Pedasi to enjoy retirement. Not a lot of time passed before she was bored. "I need something to do," she said. So, she bought a big machine to bake bread. As she laughs she says, "I had never even seen or used one". For the next three years, she provided bread to the people of town, but she tired of it and eventually closed down the bakery. Then she decided to do something that she really liked - bake cakes. Finally, in 1998 she opened again, this time baking and selling cakes in small amounts. The people really seemed to like her cakes and she got so many positive reactions that she said to herself, I can’t stop.

From these humble beginnings, the Señora’s Dulceria has been growing and growing. Now she bakes all different kinds of cakes: apple, carrot, nut, banana, caramel, rum and most famous of all, her flan. And she still bakes by herself - at least 20 cakes every day. Sometimes she says it goes up to 34 cakes a day and for flan it can be 8 a day. I asked her how she does it, and she said that the secret is to get up very, very early and get it all done by the time the shop opens at 7 a.m. What dedication!

Besides these wonderful cakes, she makes the most delicious natural juices and a local drink called chicheme - a very traditional drink made out of corn, milk and vanilla. Be sure to try it when you go.

Señora Dalila has a staff of 8 employees. They help her to sell her creations, and clean the place. I told her that that was a good thing because then she could rest while her employees take care of the business. She said, “No, no, no for Dalila there is no rest and certainly no day off.”

She has gotten quite famous in the last couple of years, and people always want to see and talk with her. I imagine that this socializing is a whole job in itself. But, she enjoys her work and loves to talk with the people.

Famous people pass by her shop often. She didn’t want me to write specific names as she thinks it might interfere in their private life. But, one of the famous people that she did give me is that of ex-president, Mireya Moscoso. She lives in Pedasi and often comes by to pay the Señora a visit. In fact they are related to each other.

The walls of the shop are full of framed pictures of all kinds of people who have paid her and her shop a visit, from famous people to tourists - just to thank her for a wonderful time and to wish her the best.

I asked Señora Dalila how she felt about all the changes and developments in her home town. She said, It is interesting because Pedasi is growing. The way it is now is nice, but I am more worried about the future of Pedasi and its people. Hopefully the people of Pedasi won’t be affected too much by the big investors and their projects. It is very important that the town stays the way it is. It would be a very great shame if what we have now disappears.

Overall Señora Dalila welcomes everyone with open arms and she likes to see new faces and meet new people. I am sure she will be happy to meet you, too!

For more information about Pedasi, La Dulceria Yely, or anything related to Panama Lifestyle or Panama Real Estate, contact Douglas M. Choy at ThinkPanama.com . He will be happy to provide any guidance and information you may need.