Celcom Axiata Berhad launched the Celcom Cupcake Challenge back in end August 2012. The contest was open to all Malaysians everywhere in the spirit of 1Malaysia and not restricted to just only Celcom customers. All the contestants had to do was to design and decorate a cupcake with their own creative interpretation of national pride and upload the photo to the Celcom Cupcake Challenge Facebook app – read all about the contest mechanics here.
Since the launch of the contest, more than 700 entries from 664 unique participants were received. In associating with our country’s 55 years of independence, 55 finalists with the most “Likes” on their Facebook entries were selected to go on to the Celcom Cupcake Challenge Finale at Publika, Solaris Dutamas on 29 September 2012.
As early as 11am, participants were already in queue at the registration counter. Long tables had been set up with all the participants’ names labelled on each individual work station. The participants had to bring their own design materials and equipment … bags, boxes, containers of every shape and size soon filled the tables.
The moment the Master of Ceremony, Razif Hashim, gave the word “GO”, all the contestants immediately started work. They were given 1 hour to complete the challenge.
Let the challenge start!
Everyone in deep concentration, working on their cupcakes
The youngest participant
En Afizulazha B. Abdullah, Chief of Operations, Advanced Data of Celcom Axiata Berhad
Due to the overwhelming enthusiasm and spirit of 1Malaysia demonstrated by the participants, Celcom decided to increase the prizes, from its original total of RM100,000 worth to a new total value of more than RM350,000 of prizes! Therefore, the finalists and winners stood to win:
1st Prize: RM10,000 cash + Samsung Galaxy SIII mobile phone
2nd Prize: RM5,000 cash + Samsung Galaxy SIII mobile phone
3rd Prize: RM2,000 cash + Samsung Galaxy SIII mobile phone
The rest of the 52 finalists received an LG Prada mobile phone each. 97 participants with the most “Likes” on their entries would also receive an LG Prada mobile phone each. All other participants (564 of them) would each receive a RM200 voucher that can be used at any Blue Cube outlet in Malaysia.
The panel of 3 judges comprised, from left: Chef Sherson Lian, Chef Rose Weiss and Chef Dato’ Fazley Yaakob.
They judged the entries based on Creativity, Uniqueness, Best Decoration and the entries must match their earlier submitted photos as closely as possible.
These were some of the cupcake creations at the Finale…
Once the 1 hour was up, the 3 judges went round inspecting and judging all the cupcakes. From the 55, 10 were shortlisted. These Top 10 participants then had a short “interview” session with the judges where they had to explain their inspirations behind their cupcake designs.
After a final round of deliberation, the top 3 winners were announced.
The 2nd Runner-up is Mac Leong...
This was Mac Leong’s entry…beautiful intricate chocolate work for the butterflies and stamen of our national flower…
The 1st Runner-up is Juneci Siong…
Juneci’s design focused on “1Malaysia”… note the neat letterings …
And the Winner is Vincent Liew!
Vincent’s cupcake design incorporates all the elements of our country’s pride…
So, the Celcom Cupcake Challenge has ended … and this was a worthy event, as quoted from En Afizulazha Abdullah…
“The Celcom Cupcake Challenge is the sweetest way to celebrate our country’s independence and formation and to commemorate the journey and achievements we have undertaken as a country. We urge all Malaysians to share the good news to their audiences, friends and family and come together as one nation over a fun and creative challenge”
For more information and updates on the Celcom Cupcake Challenge, do visit their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/cupcakeschallenge