Lorena Castillo

Lorena Castillo García de Varela (born July 31, 1968) is a Panamanian journalist and politician. She has served as the First Lady of Panama since July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2019, during the tenure of her husband, President Juan Carlos Varela.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Castillo and the second or maternal family name is García de Varela.

Lorena Castillo de Varela
First Lady of Panama
In role July 1, 2014 – July 1, 2019
President	Juan Carlos Varela
Preceded by	Marta Linares de Martinelli
Succeeded by	Yazmín Colón de Cortizo
Personal details
Born	(1968-07-31) July 31, 1968 Panama City, Panama
Political party	Panameñista Party
Spouse(s)	Juan Carlos Varela (m. 1992)
Profession	Journalist politician

Biography

Castillo was born on July 31, 1968, in Panama City to parents, Manuel J. Castillo and Moty Garcia.[1] She married Juan Carlos Varela in 1992.

Castillo attended the Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia in the United States. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from the Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT).[1] She worked as a journalist at several organizations, including Telemetro. In 2012, she left journalism to focus on her husband's political career.

Lorena Castillo became First Lady of Panama on 1 July 2014. On November 16, 2015, Castillo was appointed a "Special Advocate for AIDS in Latin America" by UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibé during a ceremony at the Palacio de las Garzas.[2]

References

1. "First Lady of Panama Lorena Castillo de Varela". Embassy of Panama in Manila, Philippines. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
2. "First Lady of Panama named UNAIDS Special Advocate for AIDS in Latin America". UNAIDS. November 19, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2016.

Honorary titles
Preceded by Marta Linares de Martinelli	First Lady of Panama 2014–2019	Succeeded by Yazmín Colón de Cortizo