BELIZE CITY–Three talented Belizeans were this morning presented with monetary prizes, as well as short vacation getaways for having submitted winning entries for the 2014 Facebook Video Competition launched by the National Celebrations Commission and the Institute of Social and Cultural Research (ISCR), an agency of the National Institute of Culture and History, in conjunction with the Belize Tourism Board, in an effort to get more Belizeans to participate in sharing patriotism.
Janessa Teck won the first prize of $1,000, Vanessa Edwards-Usher won the second prize of $700 and Kyraan Gabourel won the third place prize of $500. Nigel Encalada, director of the ISCR, presented the winners with their cheques, while Jana Puga, the BTB’s media and public relations officer, presented them with gift packages for hotel stays and dining at various Belize destinations.
Gabourel’s entry was a poem depicting how he sees Belize at 33. He centers his attention on the country’s travails, as well as infighting “while foreigners take the land.” Gabourel also won the viewer’s choice award because his video received the most views and likes online.
Edwards also chose poetry to express her patriotism, as she spoke of being a proud Belizean, being a tourist in her own backyard, because “Belize has all I need.”
The first place winner, Teck, sang of being a proud Belizean, and Encalada said that he wondered why she did not also enter the annual national song competition.
As a part of the prize package, Teck was treated to a video shoot for the production of a professional music video by Javier Molina. That video was debuted at Friday’s ceremony to unveil the winners. She also won snorkeling and kayaking packages courtesy Victoria House in San Pedro, as well as tickets to travel to San Pedro by sea and air.
The organizers said that there were only four qualifying entries, and they were judged by a committee of 5 persons on creativity, originality, the portrayal of love for Belize, the type of literary art chosen to showcase the message, and how effectively the chosen art form was used.