GCA, SCS students top ‘Coke Side of Life’ art competitions

Janela Revilla of Grace Christian Academy and James Ko of Saipan Community School shared the limelight in the just concluded “Coke Side of Life” can decoration and poster making contests.

Glimpses of Saipan, which organized the competition, said that Revilla, an 8th grader, garnered an average score of 98.33, after two of the three judges gave her perfect scores of 100 with her “opus eponymous” poster design.

Menalie S. Pacia, a senior at Marianas High School, settled for second place with a similar colorful work titled “Coke Side of Music” while Yeo Jin Lee, an 8th grade at SCS, was third with her entry titled “Coke Makes Everyone Happy.”

James Ko’s entry was adjudged the best decorated can with his hula-inspired creation, earning an average of 96.67 points. The 8th grade Ko also got two perfect scores of 100 from two judges.

Young Chae Han, also an 8th grade at SCS, was second. Her entry was titled “Coke Flower Windmill.”

Revilla, who submitted an untitled painted Coke can, placed third.

“I’m so happy. I have been joining in similar art competitions before,” said Revilla, who was accompanied by parents Leah and John and a younger sister during Friday’s exhibit of their work at the Glimpses of Saipan office in the Transpac Business Center.

Last year, her first time on the island, she also placed first in a poster-making contest.

“Back home in the Philippines, she was very active in these kinds of activities,” said her proud mother, who added that her other daughter and even her husband, a nurse at the Commonwealth Health Center, is good in this craft.

Each of the top three winners in both contests brought home prizes, including gift certificates for Coke and Foremost products, gas certificates from Shell Marianas, and certificates for six-foot long Subway Party Subs, footlong and six-inch Subway sandwiches.

Local artists Noel Quitugua, Barry Wonenberg and Jeanne Rayphand served as judges.

Glimpses said they used blind judging, with each entry identified only by number. Entries for each contest were judged based on several criteria and with corresponding points—creativity (40), artistic quality (30), adherence to the theme (20), and adherence to contest rules (10).

Corporate sponsor Coca-Cola launched the worldwide advertising campaign with the tagline “Coke Side of Life,” highlighting the iconic contour bottle.

Glimpses said that here on Saipan, the contests took off from the campaign tagline and gave students free rein on how they would interpret and visualize any facet of life with Coke.