October 25th, 2005 
On the evening of Sunday, October 23, 2005 at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, finalists participating at the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine “My Caribbean Essay Contest” showed off colorful traditional dress and fantasy costumes, based on special features of their home country or folklore.
Twelve-year-old Gloria Lisa Franken, sporting a beautiful Dera Gai costume, gave a short speech explaining the Dera Gai celebration, an event unique to her beloved Aruba, beginning with a warm “Bon ‘nochi my Caribbean friends” and ending with a hearty invitation for all to come visit her island. Although her first language is not English and as a six-grader is now only learning English language and grammar in school on Aruba, she did as good a job as the other youngsters who boast English as their native tongue.
If Gloria Lisa is chosen as winner of the essay contest, she will be called forward to read her essay before her Caribbean peers, Conde Nast executives, international media representatives and general delegates at the award announcement event during the 28th annual Caribbean Tourism Conference on Wednesday. The inspiration for her to participate at the essay competition was first and foremost her love for Aruba. She was chosen as the finalist for Aruba by Conde Nast Traveler
Gloria Lisa shares the honor of participating in St. Thomas at various special events by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine together with other essay contest finalists aged eight to 12, hailing from more than 20 Caribbean nations.
Aruba Tourism Authority, ATA, Managing Director Myrna Jansen-Feliciano, ATA Marketing executive Frits Israel, ATA Public Relations Coordinator in charge of among others youth events Sjeidy Feliciano, her chaperone Valery Franken- Habibe and The News Editor Margaret Bonarriva-Wever accompanied Gloria Lisa at the special Aruba table to cheer her on.
