Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Best of luck to the U-20 Belize National Football team as they compete in this year's UNCAF qualifying tournament!  They play El Salvador tomorrow, and starting on Monday, will rotate through the other Central American countries, playing every 2 days.  Go Belize!

"The Belize U-20 National Football Team ready to leave the country to participate in the UNCAF Under-20 qualifying tournament, to be held July 17-29, 2014 in El Salvador."

The Belmopan Bandits were placed in group 7 at the CONCACAF Championship League drawing held in Miami last week.  They are in the same group as Leon, Mexico and Isidro Metapan, El Salvador.  They start playing on the 5th of August.  Go Bandits!

"Luis Pena got a great opportunity to take a picture beside the Concacaf Champions League trophy which is currently held by Champions Cruz Azul of Mexico.  This is the coveted trophy that 24 clubs from Concacaf will battle for including the Belmopan Bandits starting the 5th August 2014."

The UNCAF U-16 matches are this week, at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan, and Belize plays every night at 7:00pm.  Nicaragua tonight, then El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica on Friday night.  If you can't make it to the games, you can see them on most TV stations.  Go, Jaguars!

In related news, they have some cool t-shirts for sale.  http://donatebelizefootball.org/merchandise.html

"Don't forget to come out and support our Baby Jaguars as they participate in the UNCAF U-16 Tournament.  Venue: FFB Project Stadium in Belmopan."

The El Salvador Military Symphonic Orchestra will play tonight for the last event of this year's September Celebrations.  They'll play at Broaster Stadium at 6:00pm.

http://bestofcayo.com/calendar

Feelgood news of the day.  26 Belizean youths went to El Salvador to attend a youth conference that focused on contributing to the community.

"Twenty-six Belizean Youth Attend Conference in El Salvador to Learn to Contribute to Their Community.  Youth from six communities in Belize travelled to El Salvador over this past weekend (2 - 5 August) to attend a Bahá’í Youth Conference.  They returned Monday night full of excitement to execute the plans they made for themselves to serve their communities of Corozal, Belmopan, Belize City, San Pedro, San Ignacio, and Dangriga.  This Conference was attended by 660 youth ages 15 to 30 from Belize, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.  It was one of 114 similar Regional Conferences being held from July through October around the globe on all continents and many island groups.  The purpose of these gatherings is 'to summon today's youth' of all faiths and backgrounds 'to put the needs of others before their own' in order 'to aid the spiritual and social development of those around them, especially ones younger than themselves.'"

Some were interviewed on Open Your Eyes: http://youtu.be/2wKUDu5qorY

Tres Viejos Mares will be performed in Benque on Sunday at 5pm.

"'Tres Viejos Mares' an international play that has been presented in Ecuador, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Argentina and many other countries will be presented in Benque Viejo Del Carmen this Sunday January 13th, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. Mount Carmel Basket Ball Court

It is such an honor to host the Central American Actors & Actresses, who are visiting Belize for the Encuentro, sponsered by many of Belize business establishments and spearheaded by BADA"

The Belize Jaguars are in the United States, where they are competing in the Copa Centroamericana, and warming up for the Gold Cup.  They play in Washington D.C., Dallas, Houston, and L.A. over the next 2 weeks.  Go Jaguars!

"Our Belize Jaguars will be going up against Central American power houses with the intent to qualify for Gold Cup 2015.  Our boys are hyped and confident especially since we're being led by much respected head coach Costa Rican Le Roy Sherrier Lewis.  The Jaguars need your support as they do battle in huge U.S. Stadiums against Honduras, Guatemala and Salvador."

Did you know that Xunantunich gets visited by 46,000 people a year?  Xunantunich is the subject of this archaeological article from the Seattle Times.  And yes, El Castillo is a sight to see, and to see from. 

"Although many people think Mayan culture was restricted to what is now Mexico, the grand kingdoms of the first millennium spread throughout what is now Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.  Xunantunich just became a tourist attraction in the early 1990s as excavations progressed and tourism infrastructure was added.  Today it draws about 46,000 visitors a year."

Congratulations, Dalina Reyes!  Miss Belize won the Diosa Maya pageant in Mexico this week, for the second year in a row.  That is an amazing dress.

"In case you missed it, Belize's Dalina Alyssa Reyes is the new Diosa Maya Internacional 2014.  She was crowned late last night in Merida, Mexico.  She was crowned by outgoing queen and fellow Belizean Grisel Rosseli Carballo, making it the second consecutive year an Orange Walk beauty captures the crown for Belize.  First-runner up was Miss El Salvador Cecilia Menjivar, while second runner-up was Miss Honduras Eidy Josselyn Bueso Lopez."

The El Salvador Military Symphony Orchestra played their free show last night at the Cayo Welcome Center.  We're averaging around 5 cultural events at the Cayo Welcome Center every week this month. 

"Their grand performance included popular renditions from ABBA, Carlos Santana, the Beatles and even theme songs from movies such as Rocky III and Star Wars to name a few."

The Belize Female Junior volleyball team is doing superbly in Honduras at the Female U20 Central American Championship.  They are 2 and 0, having beaten Honduras and El Salvador.  They play Nicaragua this evening, then get a rest day, and play the other 3 C.A. teams this week.  Keep on going strong!

"The Belize Female Junior National Volleyball Team wins again.  They are now 2 and 0 in the tournament.  The beat El Salvador 3 sets to 1, 25-18, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23.  Top scorer was again Sherika Burton with 17 points (15 kills, 2 blocks).  Jahshema Saunders had 13 points (12 kills, 1 ace), Maurissa Williams also contributed with 11 points (6 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace), Leandra Betson had 6 points (4 kills, 1 block, 1 ace)."