The University of Merida, “Instituto Tecnológico de Merida” awarded graduate engineers for their success after leaving the institution. The award is known as “Ingeniero Distinguido” that is bestowed to top engineers of the institution on “The Day of the Engineer” - celebrated on July 1 every year.

On, Tuesday, June 30, seven graduates were awarded in a special ceremony at the The University of Merida of which included Sanpedrano Ernesto Gomez was among the honorees. The award was presented to him by the Governor of Yucatan, Yvonne Ortega Pacheco. Congratulations to Mr. Ernesto Gomez, a true Orgullo Sanpedrano. Those awarded were:

* Dr. Emilio Medina Rivero de Ing. Bioquímica.
* Ing. José Eduardo Castro Castillo de Ing. Civil.
* Dra. Rosa María Flores Serrano de Ing. Industrial.
* Ing. Jorge Alberto Gorocica Díaz de Ing. Mecánica.
* Ing. Ernesto Gómez Guerrero de Ing. Química.
* Ing. Augusto Trucios García de Ing. Electrónica.
* M.C. Alejandro Cardeña Cadavieco de Ing. en Sistemas Computacionales.

The Salvadoran Community of San Pedro selected their representing queen, not in a convention beauty pageant, but through a popularity contest in the form of a bazaar. The event was held on Saturday, July 18, at the Rafael Angel Nuñez Auditorium where Jasmine Rodriguez was crowned as the Salvadoran Queen among the eight competing contestants.

The night begun with each contestant manning her own booth with entertaining games and prizes in order to keep up with their fundraising efforts. Dances from the San Pedro Dance Company, Barbara’s Dance group and the Lion’s Queen were part of the entertainment along with the band “Rompe Raja”.

As the evening’s activities progressed the contestants got ready to be presented to the audience. They were introduced and each of the young ladies shared what their future goals and aspirations for life were in the near-by future.

Thereafter, a well coordinated dance was performed by the eight candidates to showcase their talent. While this was occurring, those present at the bazaar were contributing votes to their favorite contestant – each cent represented one vote.

The heat was on when the time came to tabulate the points to announce the winner. During the tabulating Ambergris Today got the chance to try out the scrumptious pupas (one of the world-wide famous food of Salvadorans) that were being prepared all night long. Everybody was enjoying the pupas while watching the remarkable show.

The auditorium was full with strident claps when the winner was announced at the end of the contest. Jasmine Rodriguez sponsored by Beauty Club was the recipient of the most votes (monetary contributions) that was raised through sponsorships, donations and fundraising at the bazaar. The event managed to raise close to $10,000.

The pageant was a fundraiser aimed at raising money for the Salvadoran Community living in San Pedro. The committee was pleased with such event and we hope this continues to be an annual event. What more beautiful than a community that comes together to fundraise for any worthy causes to lend a helping-hand!

Ruth Maria Arita Luna
Age: 23 years old
Height: 5.6 Feet
Profession: Student of Public Relations
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brunette
Skin Color: Light Brown
Hobbies: Horseback Riding and Soccer
* She represented Honduras at the Miss Earth 2005 Pageant.
* Angelica possesses an intense sharp look and warm morena features, cloaked in an aura of mystery.
* She describes herself as a perfectionist, a confident woman and charismatic

Quick Facts

* Liliana Villanueva will co-host the Costa Maya Pageant and Opening Night along with Mr. Eiden Salazar

* Maya Island Air is sponsoring the flights to bring in Miss Mexico, Miss Guatemala and Miss Honduras to the island

* Festival Tickets and Season Passes are available at: Island Magic, Milo’s Center, Milo’s Ice, Wally’s Electrical, Post Office, The Reef Radio, Emerita Muñoz, O’Danny Boy Tours, La Divina Providencia, Caye Supplies, El Patio Restaurant

* 148 the number of artist performing at the Costa Maya Festival

* $130,000 the money needed to bring the performers

For a complete schedule of events of the Costa Maya Festival and full scheduled itinerary of the pageant contestants leading up to pageant night CLICK HERE.

Over the past week residents of the Cayo District have expressed concerns about the recent outbreak of Dengue Fever and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in that locality. Our investigation with the medical practitioners in San Pedro has revealed that there are quite a few cases of Dengue Fever on the Island as well.

Most doctors were very co-operative and willing to share their information on cases treated on the island. A total of 30 cases have been reported in the several clinics both public and private (excluding San Marcos Medical Clinic who did not want to disclose the number of cases) in the past two weeks.

Investigations also revealed that the first dengue case was detected a month ago and that the public inspector had not filed the report to the Ministry of Health. We tried to get a hold of the public inspector but were told that he was out of the island on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s.

Town Administrator, Mrs. Patty Tillett, told Ambergris Today that the Town Ccouncil has been spraying the island for three days every five days as advised by the Ministry of Health’s Vector Control Personnel. A meeting with health officials was also held on Tuesday, July 21, where, after much deliberation, the health and government officials came up with a preventative campaign that will be carried out immediately.

The plan will include distributing pamphlets at public offices and clinics in which information on Dengue will be provided, as well as how to prevent mosquito breeding and cleaning up of yards. A clean up campaign is being organized and the dates will be announced at a later date. Residents are asked to clean up their yards and the Town Council will be responsible of picking up the garbage and properly disposing of it. The health inspector will be inspecting all yards and make sure that there are no ways for the mosquitoes to breed.

To date 184 suspected cases were reported countrywide for 2009, 114 occurred in the Cayo District from May 4 to July 14 accounting for the outbreak. During that time, 45 cases have been confirmed by the Central Medical Laboratory in Belize City, and a number of specimens await confirmation. 17 cases were clinically diagnosed as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, the majority of which came from the Cayo District.

As a result the Ministry of Health has enhanced its efforts to increase ULV spray cycles especially in the Cayo District. It has also embarked on a public education campaign to inform the general public on ways to prevent the transmission of Dengue. Vector Control personnel from the Ministry of Health will be redoubling efforts to conduct premise inspections, identification of breeding sites and the elimination of larvae.

In the absence of the Director of Health Services, Dr. Michael Pitts, Deputy DHS Marjorie Parks spoke to Love FM and said that since dengue is endemic to Belize it is expected that there will be sudden occurrences on an annual basis. Parks said because of Benque Viejo’s proximity to Melchor de Mencos in Guatemala residents in that town are experiencing a slight increase in the number of cases because Melchor is considered a hotspot for the illness.

* What is Dengue?

It is an infectious disease caused by a virus and is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.

There are two types of Dengue; (i) Dengue (ii) Dengue Hemorrhagic. Dengue Hemorrhagic is when a person that is already affected by Dengue gets bitten a second time, then develops Dengue Hemorrhagic which in most cases is fatal.

Dengue cannot be transmitted by direct contact by someone who is already infected; it can only be transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito after it has fed on sick person’s blood. The mosquito can travel for very long distances and thus it can contaminate people from different communities or different areas in the same community. This day-biting species is most active in early morning and late afternoon.

Symptoms:

* Sudden and sharp high fever (104 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit) that last for five or seven days.
* Intense pain on the muscles, joints, back, bones, head and eyes.
* Shin rash, vomiting and diarrhea
* Bitter taste in the mouth, loss of appetite
* Some patients can suffer from bleeding episodes in ears and other body parts.
* Dengue Hemorrhagic is particularly serious. It can be fatal especially for children under 15.
* Hemorrhagic manifestations (unusual bleeding from the gums/heavy menstrual bleeding/unexplained bruises).
* General Weakness

Treatment:

There is no treatment or vaccine available for Dengue. If a person is infected he should drink plenty of liquids and rest in bed. He should take some medications to reduce the fever, malaise and intense pain. No aspirin should be taken. If a person suspects that he could have Dengue Hemorrhagic he should immediately go to the nearest medical center.

General Characteristics of the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes:

These mosquitoes need accumulated and uncovered water for its reproduction so that they lay and rear their eggs. This process can take place both in clean or dirty water. They can develop in any type of receptacle such as bottles, discarded tires, flower vases, roof water drainage, tin cans and toys, as well as in natural water areas such as ponds, tree holes, fruit peels and plants. These mosquitoes develop in both rural and urban areas but mostly bite during the daytime. These are ideal breeding sites for the mosquito that transmits Dengue. With the elimination of breeding sites in and around the yard, Dengue can be avoided.

The public is also encouraged to use mosquito repellent spray or lotion on the body or clothing, and to stay in well-screened areas. Dengue Fever is a disease that must be taken very seriously, in particular if you have had these symptoms in the past, and every effort should be made to keep yourself, your family and your community safe by maintaining a clean environment.

Thousands of travelers from around the world elected Belize's Ambergris Caye as one of the best islands in Central and South America, according to the 2009 Travel+Leisure "World's Best Awards." The destination ranked 2nd on the list, while Francis Ford Coppola's Blancaneaux Lodge, located in the Mountain Pine Ridge of the Cayo district, ranked 1st on the Top 10 Resorts in Central and South America list. Placencia's Turtle Inn and Victoria House on Ambergris Caye took 5th and 6th, respectively.

"We are honored to be ranked among the best destinations and hotels in the world by the discerning readers of Travel+Leisure magazine," said Tracy Panton, Director of Tourism for the Belize Tourism Board (BTB). "These awards are truly a validation of our country's sophisticated tourism offerings, balanced by our constant vigilance to preserve the endless beauty and diversity that make Belize unique."

Ambergris Caye has made a name for itself within the Travel+Leisure awards, placing on the Top 3 Islands in Mexico, Central and South America list for the past three consecutive years. Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn are also no strangers to the list, with Blancaneaux debuting 9th on the 2006 Top 25 Hotels in Central and South America list, and Turtle Inn ranking 6th in 2007. This 2009 World's Best award is the first nomination for Victoria House.

Since 1995, Travel + Leisure magazine has been presenting the World's Best Awards to the hottest properties around the globe. Winners are selected by the magazine's readers, who are asked to choose hotels and destinations worldwide that they feel are worthy of the "World's Best" title. The survey results are completely impartial and in 2009, thousands of readers participated.

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It is the southernmost district in the country of Belize and probably one of the least visited areas both by locals and tourists, but that is all about to change and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) wants everybody to get to know Toledo a little bit better.

That is why the BTB organized a media tour over the weekend, so that all the media in Belize could get to know more about Toledo and start spreading the word of such an undiscovered paradise within Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret – Belize.

Although it is still the least visited, Toledo is one of the most diverse areas in the country with a wide range of natural attractions. One minute you can be relaxing on the white sandy beaches at one of the area’s offshore cayes and the next minute you can be exploring the remains of a Mayan ruin or even hiking into the deep forest in search of some awesome caves. The district is so diverse that you can do all of this and so much more without extensive traveling. It was Ambergris Today’s first trip to Toledo and we were blown away by its beauty, natural charm and charisma of the people who call it home.

“The media tour was basically planned for the local media to come together and experience what our visitors experience when travelling to Belize,” commented Lorraine Herrera: Product Development Officer at the Belize Tourism Board during the trip. “Secondly, we wanted them to show our Belizean viewers what Toledo has to offer as a destination. The purpose of choosing Toledo is the fact that Toledo is so far away so people do not think that it is worth the while coming. This coverage of Toledo will show people that Toledo is a beautiful destination, it has a lot to offer and there are a lot of activities to do.”

Our Adventure Starts

First on our stop was a tour of Eladio Pop’s Cacao Farm where he makes a living for himself and his family of 15 children and wife. His farm spreads about 32 acres in which he grows a wide variety of fruits, spices and, in particular, the cacao plant. His main produce is the cacao which he ferments, dries and roasts for exportation to Green and Blacks in the United Kingdom to be transformed into their world renowned Mayan Gold orange flavored chocolate.

A highlight of the visit was a special invitation from Mr. Eladio to have lunch at his home in the San Pedro Colombia Village. It was there were we experienced how he raises his family and we had the opportunity to witness the making of the cacao drink and treated to a sample.

The Mayan Ruin of Lubaantun was next on our stop. The Mopan and Ketchi Maya called the site home up to 890AD and the area was abandoned shortly after. Its name translates to “Place of the Fallen Stones” and the remains of the ruins are much different from all other ruins that I had visited around other parts of the country.

The best part of the day’s adventure, for me, was the hike through the jungle to the Hokeb Ha Cave in Blue Creek. What started as an easy hike through clear paths turned out to be a vigorous climb through rocks, fallen trees and waterfalls. At the end of the trail was the amazing mouth of the Hokeb Ha Cave which is believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes in the past. The reward after the thirty minute trek was a dip in the cool and refreshing water at the cave’s entrance.

Day Two

Day two on the trip had us taking a boat ride onto the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve as we headed to West Snake Caye, one of the many offshore islands that dot the Toledo coastline. On the helm of our boat was Dennis Garbutt, owner of Garbutt’s Marine, one of the only few tour operators out of Punta Gorda Town. We set foot on one of the most pristine beaches I had ever seen. The shoreline was covered with coral rocks that fringe the entire island. It rained a bit, but the clouds soon gave way to a beautiful day and we took advantage of it and had a wonderful picnic. As we relaxed, nature was what entertained us with hundreds of hermit crabs moving around in their own business, pelicans diving for fish and the soothing sound of waves washing ashore.

Accommodations

Still not a mecca of tourism, Toledo is quite easy on the pocket as accommodations are very affordable and reasonable. We had the privilege of staying at the Lodge at Big Falls just outside of Punta Gorda Town. The Lodge at Big Falls is situated on the banks of the Rio Grande River in Belize's southern Toledo District. The property is located on a meander of the river with almost a mile of river frontage. There are no "big falls" in Big Falls; it is just the name of the village! Half of the group were hosted at Sun Creek Lodge, Toledo’s premier eco-adventure lodge. A blend of traditional and creative ways of rustic living in the tropics combined with modern conveniences welcomes guests this “Naturalist’s Paradise.” Round, thatched cabanas are dotted throughout this “Garden of Eden,” far enough apart that there is privacy. Sun Creek Lodge was awarded Small Hotel of the Year 2008-09 by the Belize Tourism Board.

“I am very excited to have you guys here,”stated Bruno Kuppinger, Owner, Sun Creek Lodge/IBTM Tours to the media personnel. “It’s the first time that Toledo got all the local media here in Toledo and to show what Toledo has to offer. When other tourists from broad are coming to Belize they can say listen Toledo is also a part of Belize and no longer the forgotten district. I would call it the unforgettable district.”

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