Coca-Cola names winners of its Thanksgiving promo

An expectant mother, who only had two raffle coupons that she obtained two days before the drawing was held, was one of the first two winners of Coca-Cola Beverage (Micronesia) Inc.’s holiday promo.

Melanie Cañeza, who is eight months pregnant and is a resident of Garapan, said she bought a case of Coke products at 99 Cents Supermarket for a children’s party she was having for her daughter, Janalene, who turned three that day.

She said she bought Coke products on Nov. 20, two days before the first drawing that was held a day before Thanksgiving on Nov.22 at Carmen Safeway Supermarket. A case purchase of Coke products entitled her to two raffle coupons.

“I did not expect to win. I only had two coupons. So, I was surprised when informed by Coca-Cola that I won. I was disbelieving at first because I thought it was just a prank call,” she said.

Caneza, who works at Rakuen Korean Restaurant in Garapan, said she’ll give the $500 Shell gas certificate, which was presented in $10 coupons, to her husband, John.

She also said she would use part of the $500 shopping spree certificate to purchase things she would need for her baby at Carmen’s Baby News, which also operates Carmen Safeway Supermarket.

The other winner, Leonora “Len” Angello said she bought four cases of Coca-Cola products at Joeten Supermarket in Susupe, and dropped the eight coupons she received at the store’s drop box.

“I was very ecstatic. I was not expecting to win. I’ll share my prize with my best friend Normae Patanao,” said Angello, a resident of Finasisu and an electronic equipment operator at Rome Research Corp.

“I’d like to thank Coca-Cola for coming up with this promo. The timing is right, especially considering that we’re into the holidays,” Angello said.

The Thanksgiving raffle was the first of three drawings, according to Edgar Deang, comptroller of CCBM, who presented Caneza and Angello their prizes at the CCBM office on Wednesday this week.

Deang said four winners will be picked in the second drawing that is scheduled to be held on Dec. 20 at Joeten Supermarket in Susupe; another two winners will be picked in the third drawing to be held on Jan. 3 at Price Costco.

All winners will each receive a $500 shopping spree certificate at Carmen Safeway Supermarket and a $500 Shell gas certificate. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]