Coke holiday promo rings in bright New Year for winners

The New Year augurs a bright beginning in 2009 for the grand drawing winners of the Coca-Cola “Spread the Spirit” promo.

This is especially true for budding motocross enthusiast, 8-year-old Kairi Tabuchi who won the grand prize, a Yamaha XT 225 motorcycle from Coca-Cola Beverage Company Micronesia, Inc. and Joeten Motor Company, Inc.

The youngest winner of the Coca-Cola “Spread the Spirit” promo and a Coke fanatic, Kairi says he was glad he asked his mom to buy Coke, as it brought them a brand new motorcycle.

“I’m very happy that I won,” Kairi says. “I asked my mom to buy Coke, my favorite drink, and she wrote my name on the entry form.”

The young Tabuchi was accompanied by his parents, Takeshi and Michiyo Tabuchi, when he claimed his motorcycle. Since Kairi is a minor, his parents were awarded the prize.

The new motorcycle that Kairi won is intended for licensed drivers and for use on the main road and so, Kairi will have to wait a while before he can ride it.

But Kairi is not in a hurry to go on the main road, as he has his weekends at Cow Town where he gets into gear for motocross.

Takeshi said that he has been riding motorbikes on the road for a long time, but Kairi offers that his dad “does only a little bit of motocross.” It’s the younger Tabuchi who is really keen on motocross, which started two years ago, when he was 7. Kairi turns 9 on Jan. 29.

“We gave him a small Chinese motorbike for his birthday present. Then he showed a lot of interest in the motorcycle. First he was learning how to ride, now he can jump,” Takeshi said.

Supporting his son’s interest in motocross, Takeshi said that he and his wife gave Kairi a PW 80, a starter motorcycle so that he could learn how to operate the clutch. Later, they have upgraded to a Y285, which is almost the same as a competition machine.

The winner of the baby grand prize, a PGO Metro Buddy scooter, Angeline Joseph says that she does not know yet what she will do with her winning, but said, “I know that I will come up with a good plan.”

A staff at one of the local hotels, Joseph said that she did not expect to win, “It took a lot of convincing to make me believe that I won since this is my first time to join a giveaway and also my first time to win. I’m so excited that I won. I did put in a lot of coupons, as my family and I drink a lot of Coke products especially during family gatherings.”

Gloria V. Silvestre, says that she and her three children are off to a good start in 2009 after winning the first prize, an Acer Aspire One laptop, which was jointly provided by Coca-Coca Beverage Company Micronesia, Inc. and Megabyte.

A Saipan resident of 19 years, Silvestre says that she is glad she and her family are regular Coke drinkers, as it brought them the prize that they wanted. “I’m very happy to have received this laptop from Coke. My kids are all happy about it. God knows we need it as my children are now in high school and a computer will help with their studies.”

Two-time winner Roel Cabacungan says that he couldn’t believe his luck when he was informed that he won again. “It must have been luck plus all those cans of Coke that my co-workers and I drank when we worked on a project in Kagman. I used to buy the drinks for all of us and I was given several coupons at a time.”

Cabacungan won an overnight stay for two at Aqua Resort Club in the first drawing and an iConnect 425 cellular phone with phone card in the grand drawing.

Another iConnect 425 cellular phone with phone card winner, Rodney M. Reyes, says that he used to work for Coca-Cola Beverage Company (Micronesia), Inc.

“I’ve needed a cellular phone and wanted to buy one. Now, I don’t have to buy anymore. Coke should do this kind of promotion more often,” Reyes says.

Mike R. Cruz Jr. and Ritchell Q. Sublemente, two of three winners of Wave Jungle passes for four with brunch at Saipan World Resort say that they would take their family to a fun day at the water park. The third winner, Mario Tayag, was not present at the awarding.

Marjorie Arugay, winner of an overnight stay for two at Aqua Resort Club, says that she hoped to win the grand prize, but is happy nonetheless that she won even though she did not get the motorcycle.

Seven other winners did not make it to the awarding of prizes. They are Jesus Marfil, Leo C. Factor, and Catherine C. Naruso, who each won one 6-Foot Subway Party Sub; Marjorie Arugay and Nestor Cayaman, winners of an overnight stay at Aqua Resort Club; Hilda Sanga, the third winner of iConnect cellular phone; and Mario Tayag, the third winner of Jungle Wave passes.

The Coca-Cola® “Spread the Spirit” promo is an expression of the “Coke Side of Holiday.”[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]