Dance Educators of America in Costa Rica
Seminar and dance competition, with visit by choreographer Chris Judd, workshops to through Sunday, Corobicí Hotel, competitions Saturday, Melico Salazar Theater, www.dealatina.com.

Collie Buddz and Michael Livingston in concert
Reggae, 8 p.m., Torre Geco, Mall Cariari; Sunday 8 p.m., Hotel Doce Lunas, Jacó, Puntarenas, 2643-2211.

Escats in concert
Pop, jazz, 10 p.m. Jazz Café Escazú, http://jazzcafecostarica.com.

Swing in 4 in concert
Latin jazz, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro. http://jazzcafecostarica.com.

Monster Jam
Featuring eight monster trucks, today through Sunday, 8 p.m., Saprissa Stadium, Tibás, tickets at selected Banco Nacional brances.

Danzatón
Dance marathon, celebrating International Dance Day, including jazz, ballet, modern, flamenco, tango, folclórico , Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m., Teatro de La Danza and amphitheater, CENAC, 2283-7925.

Las Tortugas in concert
Classic rock, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro, http://jazzcafecostarica.com.

2008 Daystar Bulo Outrigger Canoe Competition
10 a.m., Agujas Beach , Puntarenas, www.kayakjaco.com.

Women's self-esteem workshop
Led by psychologist Erick Quesada, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Casa Ames, Los Yoses, 2224-7113.

Agriculture and Tourist Fair
Saturday and Sunday, food, rides, cattle show, in Zarcero, cepatur@zarcero.co.cr.

Hiking and Tree Hugging Day
Organized by Los Congos conservation group, Sunday and May 11, leaving at 8:30 a.m., in front of Radio Universidad, San Pedro, 8819-3173.

Concert
By Verónica Tupa (Czech singer), Ladislau Tupy (guitar) and Milan Jacobeck (Czech singer), May 2, 5 p.m., José Figueres Cultural Center.

As lawmakers celebrated the beginning of their third year in office yesterday, hopes were high for greater political consensus.

Bickering over free trade paralyzed the Legislative Assembly for months last year, allowing lawmakers to pass just 47 laws during the past 12 months, one-third fewer than during the previous period.

“Now there is renewed hope that lawmakers can reach accords that have eluded us,” said Assembly President Francisco Pacheco, who was re-elected yesterday for a third term.

Every year on May 1, lawmakers elect a new directors board, the assembly's party leaders speak, and the president gives a State of the Union address.

The National Liberation Party (PLN) won five of six spots on the directors board, which runs daily sessions and appoints staff.

The next two years will be tough for the Arias administration, as an economic slowdown in the United States and surging prices threaten to drag down the economy and increase poverty.

Still, tough times may inspire lawmakers to compromise on bills, after two years of mudslinging over the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States.

On the legislative agenda this year are proposals to fight crime, speed public concession projects, eradicate shantytowns and increase penalties for traffic violations.

May Day, May Day: Miriam Zamora marches in cacerolada (pot-banging protest) fashion during yesterday's May Day march through downtown San José. The plea for higher salaries resonated with workers from various industries and sectors who are feeling the crunch of fast-rising prices on fuel and basic food items.

Ronald Reyes | Tico Times

Teachers, nurses, petroleum workers and leftist activists were among the groups yesterday that led a sparse but spirited May Day march through downtown San José, picking up where April left off in terms of public displays of people power.

For many, the tone was set by a sermon at the Merced Church by Archbishop Hugo Barrantes, who said “family wellbeing will be impossible if workers don't have fair salaries,” according to the daily La Nación. The sentiment prevailed through the orderly, peaceful march that recalled similar recent Costa Rica protests that have borne fruit, namely by public high-school teachers and firefighters.

Despite those victories – hiked salaries and slashed class sizes for the teachers, functioning fire hydrants for the anti-fire squad – many protesters yesterday, nevertheless, decried what they perceive as flagging union rights.

“I'm Costa Rican and I love this country, but this country is losing its union freedoms,” said Eliécer Ugalde, of petroleum workers union SITRAPEQUIA.

For Ugalde, a former union leader, the recent workers' gains are positive but are further signs of a “divided” labor force here, where he said lots of employees deserve higher pay in the face of fast-rising food-basket prices but seldom unify around the cause – mostly because of internal and inter-union differences, he added.

Some protest banners and speeches reminded marchers that May Day pays homage in part to the Haymarket affair, when on May 1, 1886, tens of thousands of Chicago workers walked off the job in a struggle for an eight-hour work day, according to the Encyclopedia of Chicago. Strikes continued and flared into shootings and a bombing that injured police and protestors.

Violent clashes yesterday in Istanbul, Turkey, and Hamburg, Germany, showed that over a century later, May 1 tensions remain high.

Despite the event's North American origins, the United States does not officially mark May Day, though annual May 1 protests, such as the Los Angeles immigrant rights rally, are becoming commonplace.

In Costa Rica, poised to embark on a Central America Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA), protestors played up anti-neoliberal themes, including signs and T-shirts saying “ No al TLC ” (No to CAFTA).

And rally songs of the left – among them, “ Hasta Siempre ” (Until Always), an Ernesto “Che” Guevara anthem, and a Spanish version of “We Shall Not Be Moved” – blared through speakers on the trucks that rolled slowly between marching groups.

Mexico's Pachuca CF emerged victorious Wednesday night to retain the CONCACAF Champions' Cup title after an impressive display in the second leg of the final against Deportivo Saprissa.

“Los Tuzos” won 2-1 at home, in Pachuca, Mexico, to take the two-legged tie 3-2 on aggregate.

Having staged a dramatic late comeback to secure a draw in the Costa Rica leg last week, Saprissa had high hopes of winning a fourth title, with striker Alejandro Alpízar telling the club's Web site, “We will sweat blood if we have to.”

However, Saprissa got the worst possible start as, with just three minutes gone, Pachuca's Christian Giménez exchanged passes with Gabriel Rey before burying his first time shot into the bottom left corner.

The visitors looked shell-shocked and allowed the Mexicans to control much of the first half hour. In fact, Saprissa was indebted to goalkeeper Keilor Navas who kept them in the game with some great stops, none better than a fantastic double save at minute 29.

The Ticos slowly worked themselves into contention and could easily have leveled by the break. Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Calero made a superb fingertip save from a Ronald Gómez header, and Fausto Pinto cleared a Celso Borges effort off the line to maintain their advantge.

Heading home from close range, Pachuca's Gabriel Rey then delivered a knockout blow with less than 10 minutes into the second period. Saprissa Coach Jeaustin Campos made some attacking substitutions, but to no avail.

Saprissa did grab a consolation goal in injury time when Jairo Arrieta poked the ball home to spark a frantic final minute, but Pachuca held out and now can look forward to a place in the FIFA Club World Cup, to be held in Japan in December.

Despite the result, Campos was proud of his team.

“They put their hearts into it,” he said. Saprissa will now concentrate on trying to secure the domestic league title.