The September celebrations are upon us and the calendar of events was launched today. Holding it all together is the theme. 147 entries were submitted, and here’s the one that won.
Rene Villanueva Sr.,
“Belizeans learning our past, impacting our present, embracing our future.”
That’s the theme for this year’s celebration contributed by Boisrand Panton, it goes along with this logo developed by Natalie Palacio, and is complemented by this playbill and calendar of events, filled with the annual roster of September events. NICH President Dianne Haylock is the co-chair of the September Celebrations Committee.
Dianne Haylock, Co-Chair
“National celebrations should be about several things. In the first place I believe it gives us an opportunity to decide to put aside the trials and tribulations demanding of our lives for a little while to affirm ourselves as a people and as a nation.”
Zenaida Moya, Mayor of Belize City
“Nothing can stop our celebrations. One thing with Belizeans we love to celebrate, we love to have fun and this year that is what we know will happen. Every year we try to ensure that the September celebrations is bigger and better. I can honestly say that I have all faith that this year will be even bigger and better.”
Bigger and better or just more of the same?
Dianne Haylock,
“I don’t think it has changed very much. We cannot really point
to any activity per se that is distinctly different than what we’ve done in the past. We have not been able to come up with totally new activities and we might need to do so. But I am saying the time was just not enough to do that.”
Not enough time, but the season will carry itself.
Dianne Haylock,
“This is Belize, this is who we are, let’s celebrate with pride that this is where we’ve come from, this is where we are. This is where we want to go.”
The full calendar of events will appear in this week’s newspapers. And while that was the press launch of the calendar, the ceremonial launch of the September celebration season will be held on Friday, August 29th. But for those wanting a jump start, on Friday night at the House of Culture, winners of the patriotic song competition will chosen at the House of Culture.
