Guatemalan wins Costa Maya Pageant
It was until recently known as the Sea and Air Festival but has now taken on the more regionally flavored name of Costa Maya. But whatever you call it, the annual off-season celebration in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, is a hit with a growing number of tourists and Belizeans alike. Patrick Jones was on the island last night as the festivities got underway.
The show, from beginning to end, had a distinctly Guatemalan flavor. But that was by design, as opening night of the six-day festival was also Guatemala night. The extravaganza also brings the Mundo Maya cultures of Belize, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador to the stage during the rest of the week. Chairman of the organizing committee Gach Guerrero says the change from the International Sea and Air to the International Costa Maya Festival makes it an easier event to promote in Central America.
Gach Guerrero, Chairman, Costa Maya Committee
“It brings us together. We have to share our culture. We get to learn about their culture and it’s almost similar. Like Belize was a Mayan country and they’re Mayans, so I guess we just share what we have in common.
Well what it does for the community of San Pedro, like sixty percent of the profit is put back into the community. Like this year we built the fence around this grounds which cost us twenty thousand dollars and we hope that our dreams is that we can go out and promote the festival and that it will bring tourists during the summer months, which we call the slow months, so I hope that’s what it’s doing for Belize.”
The main attraction on Tuesday night was the selection of a new Reina de La Costa Maya. The outgoing queen, Guatemalan Carol Aquino, in her farewell speech, said that there never was a dull moment for her in the last twelve months.
Carol Aquino, Miss Costa Maya, 1997
“About a year ago, I put on the crown and cloak of Queen of La Costa Maya. It brought me much honor, but more so, happiness. This sash was won, not only by me but by my country, Guatemala, which made me feel like a lucky woman to have been able to bring home this triumph. I want to thank all those people who supported me last year and those people who welcome me back this year.”
Five beauties took to the boardwalk Tuesday night, in a bid to pick up where Aquino left off. The parade of nations includes: Astrid Ramirez of Guatemala, Johanna Sasmay of El Salvador, Barbara Macossay of Mexico, Dania Prince of Honduras and Charlotte Romero of host country, Belize.
Tuesday night’s Costa Maya pageant was divided into three parts, swimsuit, evening dress and question and answer. While the contestants were dynamic in their presentations, it was painfully obvious from the get-go that the contestants were up against more than each other.
As if on cue, the skies opened up right after the swimsuit competition, sending the crowd scrambling for cover. Forty five minutes into the rain delay, the crowd was probably starting to hope that Kinich Ahau would smile on them and dry up some of the unexpected rain so that the show could continue. When they finally got it going organizers dropped some of the performances by Grupo Folklorico de Inguat in order to squeeze the whole pageant in. And they barely made it.
Announcer
“The 1998 Reina de La Costa Maya is… Miss Guatemala.”
Astrid Ramirez, Miss Costa Maya, 1998
“I am going to promote the island of San Pedro in Guatemala, promote the pageant, and that each time we will be hearing more about it, perhaps it can be televised sometime to bring more promotion to the competition. To all the people here, it is important to remember that we all came from the Mayas, to keep our culture alive and I want to tell everyone, I love you very much.”
While she did not manage to capture the crown, Mexico’s Barbara Macossay says she will be taking fond memories of Belize back to her country.
Barbara Macossay, Mexico
“It was a very beautiful experience for all of us. We all had a wonderful time; we spent many lovely moments. This is a very special event. It is important to keep it going because it strengthens our brotherhood and sisterhood, our cultures. It strengthens our friendship. I know it is only a grain of sand, but nevertheless it held us to appreciate and conserve all our natural beauty.”
Patrick Jones
“Opening night of the seventh annual Costa Maya International Festival had more rain delays than anyone bargained for, but organizers and San Pedranos on a whole remained resolute that it would take more than a couple of downpours to crash one of their shows. For the next six days now, Belize, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador will be falling all over themselves, trying to outdo Guatemala on opening night in stage performances, as the Costa Maya Festival seeks to highlight the one thing that is common to all five countries: the Maya heritage. From San Pedro, Patrick Jones for News Five.”
First runner up and Miss Photogenic in the Costa Maya Pageant was Dania Prince of Honduras. Organizers are hoping that profits from this year’s show will exceed the thirty thousand dollars they earned in 1997. Sixty percent of the proceeds go to community projects in San Pedro while the rest will be plowed back into next year’s festival.
