  Honduras will be sending 18 year old, Ms. Gill Lorie Grant to represent their country at this year's Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant. She is a first year student, studying International Commerce. She enjoys swimming, basketball and jogging. El Salvador has announced a change of representative for the pageant to be held Tuesday, August 17th. Ms. Marcella Eugenia Godoy Mancia, second finalist in the Miss El Salvador 1999 contest will now join Miss World Guatemala, Beatriz Gonzalez Schell and Nuestra Belleza Colima 1998, Ms. Denise Guzman representing Mexico in the pageant. Ms. Mancia is 19 and a student pursuing a career in law. Her hobbies are reading, modeling, acting and cooking. She hopes to attain a Master's degree in International Law and undertake an important diplomatic duty. The committee is still confirming the representative for Belize. Entertainment for all ages has always been the goal of the festival committee and this year is no exception. Announced at Thursday night's meeting was the addition of Huarachin and Huarachon for Mexico Night, August 20th. This lively comedy duo is sure to delight young and old. They will be only part of a night filled with excitement as the band Flashback, Mariachi Los Galleros and dancers from the Instituto Technologico de Chetumal, Quintana Roo will also perform. Entertainment arrangements for the remaining nights are almost complete. The schedule and those performing are as follows: Tuesday, August 17th - El Salvador, featuring Grupo Do Mayor and Ballet Nacional de El Salvador; Wednesday, August 18th - Guatemala will feature the band Nueva Era and the fabulous Guatemalan Ballet - Grupo Inguat; Thursday, August 19th - Honduras, band to be announced soon, and featuring Grupo Coma Yagueta, winner of the National Festival of Folkloric Dances 1998-99; Saturday, August 21st - International Night featuring the band Kairo, Gilharry 7 and the Belize Dance Co., both sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board. Grand Sunday will feature local artists who are being solicited to perform free of charge. Scheduled are Gilharry 7, San Pedro Dance Company and Barbara's Dance Group. Vision Graphics of Belize City has been announced as this year's logo winner. Mr. John Castillo's design features a gold oval containing an island with the five flags of the Costa Maya countries waving above. It will be featured on festival t-shirts, which his company will be printing. There are a limited number of booths left. Interested parties should contact the Costa Maya office located behind Town Hall. Booths are 8' x 10', feature a single light fixture, one outlet and are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis for a cost of $360. The price also includes two six-day passes. A $100 deposit is required, and this is the last week to pay the balance due by July 15th, 1999. Grupo Taca has now officially been announced as Grand Sponsor for this year. The committee would like to thank Grupo Taca and the following sponsors for their support: Platinum Sponsors - Tropic Air and Krystal Shipping; Diamond Sponsors - Cuello's Distillery, Estereo Amor/Love FM, Ramon's Village and San Pedro Town Board; Gold Sponsors - San Pedro Sun, Belize Tourism Board, Maya Island Air, and Ambergris Today; Silver Sponsors - Atlantic Bank, Belize Bank, Southwind Properties and Pete's Enterprises; Bronze Sponsors - Amigos del Mar, Angelus Press, La Popular Bakery, Lino's Meats, Maple Plastics and NOVA Co. Reina de La Costa Maya Sponsors - Coco Palm Restaurant, Elvi's Kitchen, Island Cuisine and Tropica. The Noche San Pedrana will be hosted by Victoria House. This is the evening set aside for the pageant contestants to meet with business leaders of the community. An additional sponsor of the festival is Bowen & Bowen. Hotels are being solicited to sponsor lodging for the event. Those contributing are Bananas Beach Resort, Banyan Bay, Coconuts Hotel, Holiday Hotel, Mayan Princess, Paradise Resort Hotel, Playador Hotel, Ramon's Village, Royal Palm Villas, SunBreeze Hotel and Victoria House. Other generous donations have been received from BC's Beach Bar, Langdon Supply, Nellie's Laundromat and Polo's Golf Cart Rental. Season passes for the festival will be available for the following prices: adults - $85; children - $40; nightly tickets (at the gate) adult - $20, and children - $15 except for Saturday, Belize Night when Kairo will perform and tickets will cost $40. The next meeting will be held Thursday, July 15th at 7:30 p.m. at Paradise Resort Hotel. Anyone needing further information should contact Ms. Elsie Morataya or Mr. Wil Alamilla Jr. at the Costa Maya office at 026-3016 Monday through Friday during normal working hours.
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