Name: Jennifer Miranda Rodríguez
Age: 19 years old
Height: 5” 5’
Profession: Acting Students at the University of Costa Rica and English student at the at the Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano
Light green eyes, Brown hair and clear skin
Hobbies: Acting, singing, modeling and reading
Hot Entertainment Lineup for Costa Maya Fest
After attending the Costa Maya Committee meeting this week it was clear that the entertainment lineup for the festival will be exceptional this year. It’s a totally new lineup with different entertainers that will add much gusto to the sensational cultural presentations.
We all know that Belizean entertainer Supa G is locked for a mega concert for Friday, August 7, international singer Cristian Castro has been confirmed for International Night, Saturday, August 8 and funny man Adrian Uribe for Sunday, August 9, 2009. Here is a rundown of the confirmed performers for all four nights:
Thursday (Aug. 6), Pageant Night
* Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant
- Entertainment by Jackie Castillo, San Pedro Dance Company, New Generation Dance Group and singer Mario Mejia from Guatemala
- After Party with Rock Band (TBA)
Friday (Aug. 7) Opening Night
- Opening Ceremonies by SP Dance Group
- Belize Dance Company
- D Creations Dance Group from El Salvador
- Alma Caribeña Dance Group from Mexico (Cultural)
- Mario Mejia Pop singer from Guatemala
- Supa G performs
Saturday (Aug. 8) Intl’ Night
- D Creations (El Salvador)
- Alma Caribeña Dance Group from Mexico (Modern Cabaret-style)
- Abner Babil (Hip Hop/Reggae Belizean Artist)
- Cristian Castro
Sunday (Aug.9) Closing Night
- Dyllan Jones (Belizean Comedian)
- Rock in Peace (SPHS Band)
- Adrian Uribe (Mexican Comedian)
(Schedule of performances is not complete and subject to changes and additional performers yet to be added)
Abner Babil
Abner David Murillo, better known as Abner Babil, has had a passion for music for as long as he can remember. He started writing songs and rapping at the age of 12 and at the age of 13, he performed on stage for the first time.
With a Hip Hop origin, a strong Reggaeton influence and living in the Caribbean growing up listening to Dancehall, his style and music are very versatile, hence the name of his upcoming Album "Versatile". Versatile will include songs such as "Like Damn"(mix of Reggaeton, Hip- Hop, Dancehall), "Versatile" (Hip-Hop/Rap), "Que Lindo Es Saber" (Reggaeton, Ballad), "No lo hagas" ft Supa Pro & The Messenjah (Reggaeton, Hip- Hop, RnB), "So hot" ft 8 Stizzle (Dancehall, Reggaeton) "Tu eres" ft Mc loco" (Romantic Reggaeton) "I wanna be" (Inspirational Hip Hop w/ Chorus sung by Kids Choir).
With a combination of styles like these Abner Babil is truly a “Versatile” and rising artist in Belize. His album is expected to be complete by the end of summer 2009. The Costa Maya Festival will be one of his first major platforms in promoting his music. Visit www.myspace.com/abnerbabil to listen to his music.
Mario Mejia
Mario Mejia is from Guatemala, but has traveled the world in search for making it big in the world of entertainment. He already has an album under his belt and is seeing his career climbing steadily.
He started taking singing lessons at the age of seven and at 15 years old he was composing his own music. He studied in Europe and once he moved to Miami, Florida, he saw his career start taking flight. After recording his album titled Mario Mejia, he has performed in many venues around the United States, Puerto Rico and is very popular in his home country of Guatemala. He has participated in the famous Calle 8 Festival and will be a signature voice in Teleton 2009. For more on Mario Mejia (music and videos) visit www.ambergristoday.com and his website www.mariomejia.net.
Mario Mejia Videos
Manana
Muerdeme en los Labois
>
STORY #2 1st Ever Señorita Comunidad Salvadoreña
The Salvadoran Community is holding its first ever “Señorita Comunidad Salvadoreña” Popularity Contest and eight beautiful young ladies are participating in this popularity contest.
They are:
15-year-old, Jessica Flores – sponsor - Reef Village,
14-year-old, Monica Muñoz - sponsors - Captain Morgan’s and Milo’s Center
14-year-old, Seleni Perez - sponsor - Coastal Express
15-year-old, Yanira Lara - sponsor - Costa Maya Reef Resort
15-year-old, Emeli Cerpa - sponsor – Sun Dancer Boutique
17-year-old,Fatima Pereira – sponsor – Maleah’s Company
15 year-old, Amanda Ack- sponsor – Sarai’s Boutique
14-year-old, Jasmin Rodriquez – sponsor – The Beauty Club
The contest will take place on Saturday, July 18 at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium. The contest is a part of their Independence celebration which is on September 12. The money raised at the fundraiser will be used to assist members of the Salvadoran Community as well as other members of the community when in need of monetary assistance for medical reasons.
So mark your calendars and come out and support your favorite candidate on Saturday, July 18, each cent you give will count as a vote, so get your piggy banks ready and be a part of the first ever Señorita Comunidad Salvadoreña.
STORY #3 Lobster Lover’s Paradise
Grilled Lobster, Lobster Poppers, Lobster Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers, Lobster Bisque, Lobster Chowder, Lobster Dip, Lobster Fettuccini Alfredo, Lobster Pita, Lobster Burger, Caribbean Lobster, Lobster Santa Fe, Chipotle Lobster Tacos, Stew Lobster, Coconut Curry Lobster Tostadas, Lobster Cheesecake and Lobster Ice Cream – A lobster lover’s paradise indeed. All of these dishes, and more, were available at the San Pedro Lobsterfest Block Party that celebrates the delicious and succulent Caribbean Spiny Lobster that we all love so much.
The San Pedro Lobster Fest Block Party that was held on Saturday, June 20, culminated a week-long celebration of the opening of Lobster Season in Belize 2009. Hundreds crowded Central Park to sample lobster delicacies that were on the top of the menu, probably the only thing on the menu, at all the food booths.
Restaurants from around the island set up their mobile kitchens at Central Park in order to cook and boast their top Lobster dishes, appetizers and even desserts. Elvi’s Kitchen took the top honors with the Best Lobster Entrée; but with so much to eat at Elvi’s Kitchen it was hard to say which of its dishes was the best entrée. There was Stew Lobster, Coconut Curry Lobster Tostadas, Chipotle Lobster Tacos and Grilled Lobster. The award-winning restaurant surley made no stops this year to present an array of delicious lobster dishes and appetizers.
Sunset Grill enticed the judges with a mouth-watering Lobster Santa Fe that garnered the restaurant with the Best Lobster Appetizer award and Black Orchid Spa took home the Best Cocktail with a unique creations they called the Spiked Lobster, whose key ingredient was jalapeño pepper! Other delicious drinks included Elvi’s sweet Horny Lobster, Sunset Grill’s exotic Laguna Sunset, Red Ginger’s tasty Banana Tanga and Rojo Lounge’s spicy Rojo Poison.
Rojo Lounge took the prize for Best Booth with its bamboo bar, cozy lounge seats and colorful lights. They shelled out free Lobster Ice Cream – a first for many curious food lovers. Other booths that were popular with the masses were Red Ginger, Elvi’s Kitchen Sunset Grill and the Kakaw Belizean Chocolate booth that offered locally made dark molten chocolate that was perfect to smother on fruit skewers and corn tortilla chips.
The third annual San Pedro Lobster Fest was definitely bigger and better than last year, not even the rain could chase away the crowd. There were lots to eat, drink and loads of fun and entertainment for all to enjoy. If you missed out on all the lobster treats, make sure you make your rounds around the island and sample all these delicious lobster dishes at the fine restaurants we have in San Pedro. If you did not know the San Pedro Lobster Fest was named one of the Top 300 Greatest Events in the World by Frommers and What’s on When – pretty impressive Eh?
Best Lobster Entrée - Elvi’s Kitchen
Best Lobster Appetizer – Sunset Grill
Best Cocktail – Black Orchid Spa
Best Booth – Rojo Lounge
People’s Choice (most visited booth) Elvi’s Kitchen & Red Ginger
Bloggers from all over converged in San Pedro this past weekend to participate in a Blog Fiesta that was organized by Tacogirl Laurie Norton. The event was scheduled to run simultaneously with the San Pedro Lobsterfest 2009. Since our Lobsterfest has been named one of the 300 greatest events in the world by Frommers and Whats on When, Tacogirl invited a group of over 15 bloggers down to cover the festivities. Having a daily blog about San Pedro, Ambergris Today was in on the fun.
The first social event was scheduled at Pedro’s where the bloggers got to meet each other and chat about their experiences in Belize and what makes them blog so much about our dear country and home town San Pedro. It was an ‘All you can eat’ lobster pizza event that became one big get-together with plenty to eat and drink; a good game of gift exchange also got everybody in the party mood.
Of course the main purpose of the Blog Fiesta was to unite all these bloggers from around the world to write about the Lobsterfest and they were all present at the block party with camera’s on hand. Tacogirl scheduled a very nice itinerary of events for the bloggers to come together other than the block party. There were breakfast meets at Estel’s and George’s Kitchen and even great bargains and deals for the bloggers at various restaurants and stores on the island. These deals were included at Captan G’s golf cart rentals, Lime, Hummingbird Café, Catamaran Beach Bar, Extreme Adventures, Seaduced and Changes in Latitude, to name a few.
The bloggers had options to parasail, cruise the island on catamaran, snorkel or dive or tour the island on golf cart. All this gave the bloggers much information and picture opportunities to blog about San Pedro and the Lobsterfest. After meeting up with many of the bloggers, Ambergris Today was sure that the Blog Fiesta was very successful and a great idea to promote tourism on the island. A big “Thumbs Up” to Tacogirl for taking the initiative of bringing people together and creating yet another fun event for many to enjoy.
STORY #5 Almita Pinelo Receives Scholarship at US Coast Guard Academy
In a very important ceremony on Wednesday, June 17, at the Price Barracks in Ladyville, The Belize Defence Force received over a million dollars in equipment and scholarships for three soldiers worth more than half a million dollars. One of those three cadets is a Sanpedrana, Alma Marcela Pinelo, daughter of Jennie Staines. Almita will have the opportunity to study at a prestigious military institution, The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
“Equipment has no heart and no soul so the big item was announcing that fact that we have two Belizean candidates for the United States Naval Academy and we also have a candidate for the United States Coast Guard Academy,” commented Jack Diffily, Charge d’Affairs at the Ceremony.
Almita joined the Belize Defense Force in December 2008, as she believed that by joining the BDF, not only would she have a great opportunity to receive the best education, but because she is willing to serve and give back to her country when she completes her studies.
While at the US Coast Guard Academy, not only will Almita be receiving military training, but she will also be studying Marine and Environmental Sciences for four years and will then become a part of the Belize Coast Guard for five years.
Almita’s adventure will begin next week as she will physically and mentally prepare to commence her studies in a summer camp called Swab Summer - this is a seven-week traditional military indoctrination. The training involves seamanship, swimming and academics. Through the process, students develop self-discipline, military bearing and esprit de corps (the spirit of the corps).
Almita graduated from St. Catherine’s Academy in 2007 and in 2009 she received her Associates Degree in Natural Sciences at St. John’s College Junior College. The other recipients are Ciardi Glenn and Adrian Bosh. We wish only the very best to these three students, Good Luck Almita, make us Proud!
The B.D.F. received over 1.2 Million dollars worth of equipment to assist the Special Assignment Group and the Light Engineer Company of the force which included 12 ATV’s, six tough books Panasonic laptops, 10 Horace radios, a total of 90 flock jackets, body armor, some overhead projectors some printers and copiers for the office of the Belize Special Assignment group.
STORY #6 Bloggers Donate to Holy Cross
The Blog Fiesta not only sparked promotion of our Lobsterfest and Island activities, but a group of bloggers from Canada also made a generous donation to the Holy Cross Anglican School.
The Direct Abundance girls as they are known, Joanne, Heather and Cathy, arrived in San Pedro last week for the Lobsterfest/Blog Fiesta, but their other priority was to deliver 450lbs/9 BIG bags of donations for the Holy Cross Anglican School. Their donations included a variety of items including school supplies, toys, book – everything but the kitchen sink as the staff of Holy Cross put it. Of course, everyone at the school was overjoyed.
Their donation came in perfect timing as because Carol Babb from the Ministry of Education was at the school so the girls got to meet her and form a connection. This will enable Direct Abundance to help schools on the mainland as well. The Ministry of Education is working towards using Holy Cross as a model for schools in Belize.
While at Holy Cross, Direct Abundance also sponsored a scholarship for one lucky high school student for the following school year. All the Holy Cross kids had to write out why they felt deserving of a scholarship and what area they wanted to study. From all the great letters, 14 year-old Damaris was chosen. She wants to be a music producer and in her own words she commented, “I chose this career because I really love music. Music is my passion, I could hear music every day and I don't get bored. I really have to follow my dreams and not give up.”
The girls also have several more ambitious projects to assist our island community. One of their goals is to start getting “School in a box” to the island, which is a kit that is a complete classroom. They are working to get first one down for September.
Joanne, Heather and Cathy told Ambergris Today of a very exciting plan that they just came up with. Many kids in Canada are required to do 40 hours of community service work to graduate high school, so the girls will approach schools to have the students sell chocolate bars to help send a Holy Cross student to high school on a scholarship.
“It’s a great way to instill a great sense of self accomplishment for the students in Canada and they create great bonds with the students which they help here in San Pedro,” commented the girls.
Direct Abundance is dedicated to improving the lives of young people in struggling developing world communities through education, and poverty reduction. It is their vision that by forming partnerships with public, private volunteer organizations they can support and strengthen school programs and provide services that contribute to the health and vitality of disadvantaged communities. For more information visit www.directabundance.com.
Thanks Joanne, Heather and Cathy for being such great souls and investing a lot of your time in making children’s dreams come true in San Pedro. All your hard work is very much appreciated. (In addition to all that they donated, the Direct Abundance girls also handed over $250 from the selling green beads at Lobsterfest block party.)
